May 1st, 2014 – The Human Sciences Monographic Series, the Ontario French Language Observatory and the Office of the Vice-President of Francophone Affairs at Laurentian University launched three books based on the International Conference on Language and Territory organized in 2010 by Laurentian University. Commissioner of Official Languages and conference honourary president Graham Fraser was on hand today for the launch.
Under the title Langue et territoire (Language and Territory), the books are subtitled Espaces littéraires, Études en aménagement linguistique and Études en sociolinguistique urbaine, respectively, and compile three years of work directed by Julie Boissonneault and Ali Reguigui, professors in the Department of French Studies at Laurentian University. Many academic researchers, doctoral students, legal scholars and other language specialists from around the world also collaborated.
“In these publications, the International Conference on Language and Territory finds a brilliant outcome and makes significant contributions to the understanding and advancement of linguistic rights,” said Graham Fraser. “The quality of research by Laurentian University professors and their collaborators is a testament to the importance of – and respect shown for – linguistic duality in Canada and cultural diversity within this institution.”
“The reference material unveiled today lives up to the historic event that brought together for the first time in 2010 Canada’s five language commissioners for the International Conference on Language and Territory,” added Dominic Giroux, president and vice-chancellor of Laurentian University. “Our institution is proud to participate once again in official language development and is poised to continue its efforts in language planning.”