Diversity Hosting Panel Discussion Participation

Moderation of the webtalk series " Sprache-Macht-Demokratie" ("Language-Power-Democracy")

Talking about language is more relevant than ever when it comes to shaping coexistence in diversity. Language is changing, whether with the use of gender-equal and non-discriminatory terms on the one hand, or the normalisation of right-wing extremist and populist expressions on the other.

The association „Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie e.V.“ (Against Forgetting - For Democracy) therefore initiated the webtalk series „Sprache – Macht – Demokratie“ as part of the project "Konstruktive Kommunikation - #WIeDER_SPRECHEN FÜR DEMOKRATIE", which was moderated by Prasanna Oommen. In a total of four webtalks, experts discussed the following questions:

Who owns the (German) language? What role does language play in individual identities and what relevance does language have in relation to democratic coexistence? How consciously or unconsciously do language users position themselves through their use of language?

Webtalks-Overview:

09/22/22: "What is the relationship between language and democratic togetherness?"

Guests:

  • Dr. Laura Neuhaus, Deputy Head of the Duden.dictionary editorial office, Dudenverlag
  • Dr. Melanie Schroeter, Department of Languages and Cultures, University of Reading
  • Prof. Dr. Britta Schneider, Faculty of Cultural Studies at the European University Viadrina, Frankfurt Oder
  • Meis Alkhafaji, Youth Ambassador „Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie e.V.“

10/20/2022: "Political Correctness", Empathy and Sensitive Use of Language?

Guests:

  • Jasmin Mouissi, trainer and consultant for racism critique and empowerment and head of the model project for "Qualifizierung und Vernetzung der Antidiskriminierungsarbeit NRW“
  • Dr. Hanna Acke, University Lecturer in German Studies at Åbo Akademi University in Turku, Finland
  • Adela Dulovic, Jugendbotschafter*in „Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie e.V.“

11/17/2022: Gender-neutral language?

Guests:

  • Dr. Miriam Lind, research associate at the Department of Historical Linguistics of the German Language at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
  • Daniel Horneber, Activist for Inclusion (www.inklusion-statt-integration.de)
  • Felicia Ewert, political scientist and expert on transphobia
  • Meis Alkhafaji, Youth Ambassador „Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie e.V.“

12/15/2022: Is there anything unspeakable? Freedom of expression and its limits

Guests:

  • Karoline M. Preisler, politician and lawyer
  • Prof. Ricarda Drüeke, Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Salzburg
  • Friedemann Schulz von Thun, communication psychologist and founder of the Schulz von Thun Institute for Communication
  • Adela Dulovic, Youth Ambassador „Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie e.V.“