Children’s Literature as a Welcoming Space for World Languages
Whether as windows onto the world or reflections of intimate experiences, children’s books help shape readers’ identities and structure their vision of the world. Children’s literature can offer a space for interaction with the various languages and cultures of the world, where children would also find their own languages and cultures. But is this vision of a unifying, respectful, and egalitarian children’s literature realistic? In a globalized book industry, what are the issues surrounding the place of languages and cultures from abroad? And how can we offer alternative perspectives to today’s readers, the future citizens of tomorrow’s world?
Hasmig Chahinian is in charge of IBBY France at the National Centre for Children’s Literature at the French National Library. She has been a member of IBBY’s executive committee for many years, taking on various roles, and is currently serving as treasurer. With her Armenian, Lebanese, and French heritage, Hasmig has a strong interest in multicultural identity and languages; she runs training courses and publishes articles on the subject. Her doctoral thesis focused on the relationship between Armenian children’s reading and the formation of their identity. Hasmig founded the “Kotot” publishing house to offer quality books in Armenian for children.
Keynote Speaker: Hasmig Chahinian
Children’s Literature as a Welcoming Space for World Languages
Whether as windows onto the world or reflections of intimate experiences, children’s books help shape readers’ identities and structure their vision of the world. Children’s literature can offer a space for interaction with the various languages and cultures of the world, where children would also find their own languages and cultures. But is this vision of a unifying, respectful, and egalitarian children’s literature realistic? In a globalized book industry, what are the issues surrounding the place of languages and cultures from abroad? And how can we offer alternative perspectives to today’s readers, the future citizens of tomorrow’s world?
Hasmig Chahinian is in charge of IBBY France at the National Centre for Children’s Literature at the French National Library. She has been a member of IBBY’s executive committee for many years, taking on various roles, and is currently serving as treasurer. With her Armenian, Lebanese, and French heritage, Hasmig has a strong interest in multicultural identity and languages; she runs training courses and publishes articles on the subject. Her doctoral thesis focused on the relationship between Armenian children’s reading and the formation of their identity. Hasmig founded the “Kotot” publishing house to offer quality books in Armenian for children.
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