Here we are at the old site of the Collegium Trilingue
where Greek, Hebrew and Latin were studied.
With me today is professor Meylaerts.
Professor, can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your studies?
Yeah, sure. I'm head of the research unit in Translation Studies
and my research is dealing with translation and the role of translation
in intercultural relationships.
On the role of cultural relationships and the translation of it,
can you tell us a bit about the modern research that you're currently doing
because the Collegium Trilingue has a rich history of using multilingualism
to deal with these translations and we want to hear a bit more about that.
Indeed, well today we become more and more aware
of the fact that modern societies and modern cultures
are profoundly multilingual and, unlike what many models have thought
– let's say in the last century, focusing on monolingualism.
The study of multilingualism and the study of cultural transfer
in cultural understanding, the study of the transfer of people,
bringing with them their foreign languages,
becomes more and more important to understand cultures better.
So there is a connection of the study of multilingualism and merging cultures
coming together because, as you stated, when you come and bring your language,
you also bring your culture.
How does that apply to our modern study today of society, I would say?
Well I think it's important for every society to reflect deeply
– and modern societies don't do so, I think –
but to reflect deeply on how to integrate these people.
How to integrate foreigners, the foreign students
but also the foreign workers.
How to integrate these, bringing with them their languages and cultures.
You cannot live by the models of the monolingual nation-state.
That's amazing!
It makes me think because here at the Collegium Trilingue was
where you had people who understood Greek, Latin and Hebrew,
coming together with their cultures,
coming together to work towards a common goal
of deciphering certain texts.
Professor, thank you so much for your time.
You're most welcome.