Unicamp started, this Wednesday (22), a process of getting closer to the Moscow State University of Linguistics (MSLU). The dean of the Russian institution, Irina Kraeva, and the vice-dean, Olga Iriskhanova, were received by the acting dean of Unicamp, Maria Luiza Moretti, for preliminary negotiations that may result in partnerships and collaborations in several areas of linguistics.
Irina Kraeva reported that MSLU has maintained a Portuguese department for 60 years and, to celebrate the date, announced that, this year, a new course will be implemented — with a variation of the Portuguese spoken in Brazil. “Within the scope of this idea of the Brazilian variation of Portuguese, we want a course that is not just about teaching the language. We want an action that can cover other aspects that have to do with Brazil, both cultural and economic issues, as well as other areas. This is all a focus of great interest for us, and we want to deepen our studies in this regard”, stated the dean.
MSLU is the only institution that maintains an active Portuguese department in Russia. FFounded in 1930, the university operates in the historic region of Moscow “a 10-minute walk from the Kremlin”, as defined by the rector.
It has more than 20 research areas and 6,5 students. Today, teaching in 38 languages is offered at MSLU. In addition to traditional Russian, the university teaches two other forms of Russian — as a foreign language and sign language. “Our university may be considered small compared to Unicamp, but we are well recognized, both inside and outside Russia”, guarantees the dean, who confessed to having been impressed by the extension of the territory of the Barão Geraldo campus and the number of areas of existing research at Unicamp.
Scientific investigation
The vice-rector Olga Iriskhanova showed interest to discuss, with Unicamp experts, topics that are part of conversation analysis studies — scientific research that aims to codify the way people interact in their different tasks and actions in everyday life.
She reported experiences and projects that are being developed at the university, such as multimodal research, which, in addition to verbal elements, considers body movements (gestures, for example) or eye movements. He also cited investigations into how individuals from different countries reflect or react in different ways in relation to the same action or task.
She says that these studies can contribute to the development of artificial intelligence technologies or help improve tools such as simultaneous translators, for example. “Love for the language means love for research, and this coincides with what we are developing”, said the vice-rector.
The acting dean of Unicamp, Maria Luiza Moretti, said she was excited about the possibility of a partnership with MSLU. “We just hope that this meeting does not end here. We want it to bear fruit in many partnerships and collaborations. We want Russian students and teachers to come to Unicamp and Unicamp students and teachers to be sent to Russia,” she said.
several possibilities
The director of the Institute of Language Studies at Unicamp, Petrilson Pinheiro da Silva, said he was excited about the meeting. “I see several possibilities for collaborations. In the presentations they gave, it is very clear that we have a lot in common. Not just because of the name (Linguistics), but I see a close connection between the areas, such as language teaching; the area of linguistics itself, including thinking about teaching Portuguese to foreigners”, said the professor. “Even more so now that we know that they are implementing a course that will deal with the variety of Portuguese spoken in Brazil”, he added.
Internationalization
“Any action that focuses on internationalization we are looking at very closely,” said Professor Osvaldir Pereira Taranto, executive director of International Affairs at Unicamp’s Executive Directorate of International Relations (Deri). “We want to make Unicamp increasingly international and we need to create relationships with the whole world. Even more so than someone who asked to speak to us”, said the director.
