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International Conference on Language
and Diplomacy | |
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Language
is essential at all stages in diplomatic processes. Language is used to
transmit, create and record knowledge in diplomacy as in other fields.
Although we usually concentrate on the message rather than the means,
awareness of language use in diplomacy can lead to a better understanding
of the way diplomacy functions and why some diplomatic processes are more
successful than others. Today, as IT increases the opportunities for
direct communication between people, awareness and understanding of
cultural differences in communication become more and more important. At
the same time, IT is changing the way we use language to communicate:
indirectly, as fast and personal communication leads to less formality;
and directly, as we begin to explore the new possibilities for enriching
our communication with IT based tools such as hypertext. DiploProjects,
at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, has organised several
conferences on knowledge and diplomacy over the last few years. Discussion
during conference sessions has highlighted the importance of language for
diplomacy. Although previous conferences have included presentations on
language and diplomacy, we decided to dedicate an entire conference to the
topic this year. Presentations
at the International Conference on Language and Diplomacy will examine
traditional aspects of language in diplomacy, for example, language
training, negotiation, interpretation and translation, written and verbal
diplomatic communication, diplomatic signalling, rhetorical patterns and
ambiguities, as well as new issues raised by information technology, such
as possibilities for automatic translation, language diversity and the
Internet, and DiploML. Presentations will address the issue from both
theoretical and practical perspectives, but should always be relevant to
the practice of diplomacy. For
more information, or to register to attend this conference, please
contact:  Please send your comments to DiploProjects. This document was updated 06/11/00. |