The XIV congress of the AISC (Associazione Italiana di Studi Catalani), which has as its motto “Because the other gives me back my face – Incontri, pensieri di frontiera, ibridazioni”will bring together researchers, writers and specialists from several European universities at the University of Catania to explore the interrelationship between language, identity and alterity. This involves addressing the different forms of relationship between Catalan culture and other languages and cultures, as well as reflecting on the limits of discourse and artistic and literary expression: writing and migration, ecocriticism, intersectionality, linguistic islands, etc.
The congress will have the participation of teachers from the Llull Networkespecially from Italian universities, and will include a tribute to the teacher and translator Anna Maria Greetingsrecognized specialist in the work of Mercè Rodoreda and recently transferred.
The main lectures will be given by Pilar Godayol (University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia), which will present Italian feminism in Catalan lands (1975-2025)i Enrique Bou (Università Ca’ Foscari di Venezia), with the presentation “Old love rusts little”. Catalanism in Italy.
theAISC it was created in 1978 on the initiative of some university professors of philology, linguistics, literature, history, history of art, architecture, etc. who were dedicated to Catalan studies. It currently brings together people interested in Italian-Catalan relations and focuses its activity in the language and culture sector, both in the field of scientific research and teaching. It publishes annually the Italian Journal of Catalan Studies.
Venice commemorates 50 years of Catalan studies (1975–2025)
Currently, twelve Italian universities offer Catalan language and culture studies, including the Ca’ Foscari University of Venicea reference center that celebrates 50 years of Catalan studies this year. That’s why the days 2 i December 3Ca’ Foscari will hold the congress “1975-2025: 50 years of Catalan studies in Venice, 50 years of freedom in Spain”, a day that will remember five decades of implementation and consolidation of Catalan studies at the university.
The event poster incorporates an exceptional element: a Bartomeu Olives map of 1538with toponyms and wind names in Catalan, considered the oldest Catalan (Mallorcan) document in the historical collection of the university, which will be publicly exhibited during the commemoration.
In addition to the Ramon Llull Institute, current teachers and former readers of Catalan will participate in the event, such as Albert Morales or Paula Marques, Patrizio Rigobon i Francesca Santulliprofessors at Ca’ Foscari University, Ruggero Soninohonorary consul of Spain in Venice and Luca Bellizzidelegate of the Government of Catalonia in Italy.
The translator and sociolinguist Paul Vidal will give a conference dedicated to linguistic ideologies and Catalan sociolinguistic evolution in recent decades, with the aim of placing the current challenges of the language in an international framework. The day will also include interventions by historians Alfonso Botti i Giovanni Cattinifrom the professor Veronica Orazi and the teacher Ivan Lo Giudiceamong other first-level specialists.
