Intertiol conference on language, ethnicity concludes

From our Correspondent

TINSUKIA, Feb 12: “Language holds a mirror to the cultural, tiol, social and professiol background of its user. It also reveals the speaker’s class and ethnic identity and language also lends gender identity to the speaker,” stated Dr Z N Patil, former professor of English and Foreign Languages, University of Hyderabad, while delivering the key-note address at the two-day ICSSR sponsored intertiol conference in Tinsukia College which concluded on Sunday amidst presence of foreign dignitaries and a large number of scholars from India and abroad.

 Organized jointly by the English Language Teachers’ Association of India, Assam chapter and Department of English, Tinsukia College on the theme entitled ‘Language, Ethnicity and Identity: Twenty-First Century Perspectives’ and sponsored by Oil India Limited and State Bank of India, the conference witnessed presentation of as many as 218 research papers in six technical sessions in six conference halls. While Dr Bhuban Gogoi, Principal of Tinsukia College, chaired the iugural programme, MLA Sanjay Kishan was present as chief guest. The programme was anchored by Prof Anjali Baruah with vote of thanks offered by Prof Bhadreswar Choudhury.

The featured speech was delivered by Prof Crirapat Prapandvidya, former Director of Silpakorn University, Bangkok, highlighting the writing system of the Thai-its history and development. While three eminent scholars, Prof Ratporn Sethakul of Payap University, Thailand, Dr Anindya Syam Choudhury of Assam University and Maitreyee Bhattacharjee, author and blogger, participated in the panel discussion, the plery speeches were delivered by Dr Mridul Bordoloi, Head of the Department of English, Dibrugarh University and Dr Anindya Syam Choudhury.

The six conference halls, Hornbill, Lupi, Baguramba, Chowangkan, Ali Aye Ligang, Jonbeel, Poi Chang Ken were med after some of the festivals, music and dance forms of various ethnic groups of Northeast India. The conference also had a counseling session for students on English communication skill and employability prospects in corporate houses which was delivered by Tridiv Hazarika  senior PRO, Oil India Limited Duliajan.