On Friday, February 19, 2021, a press conference was held at the Language Institute on the occasion of the upcoming, now traditional manifestation Days of the Language Institute 2021, which will last from February 21 to March 21.

The conference was opened by mr. sc. Aida Kršo, Research Assisstant. She presented the concept of this year’s event, which, in accordance with the emergency responds preparedness due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is mostly held online, but which will still not affect the quality or quantity of content that is already habitual – guest lectures, forums, promotions… Instead of visiting schools, a video material has been prepared that teachers will be able to use in teaching, and a novelty is a competition for works on the topic “My mother tongue” for primary and secondary school students. She also announced the next, jubilee 50th anniversary of the Language Institute, which will be celebrated next year.

Dr. sc. Jasmin Hodžić, Research Associate, presented guest lectures, this year on the topic of linguistic imperialism and language in education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will be held by Dr. Besmir Fidahić on February 22 at 6.30 pm and Dr. Ismail Palić on February 24 at 6:30 p.m. He stressed that the theory of linguistic imperialism is related to the examination of language in the context of social relations and issues of dominant and subordinate languages in society, and the theory of linguistic justice is applied where language is used as a means of conflict. These theories have a great application in the perception of society and education, the judiciary, the media and similar, and both are directly related to the International Mother Language Day.

Director of the Institute dr. sc. Alen Kalajdžija, senior research associate, presented a short video dedicated to language, which presented all the ways in which language can be treated, and how the International Mother Language Day can be used to present language as a historical fact and its position in terms of linguistic freedoms. Beside that, he announced the presentation and distribution of the leaflet “Seven Important Facts about the Bosnian Language”, which presents lesser-known and treated information related to the Bosnian language.

The conference was attended by representatives of N1 TV, FENA, Anadoly Agency, BH Radio 1, TVSA, Mediacentar and Stav, and we appreciate that with gratitude.