Hurray for the first “Romancia Week” in Swiss history!
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, together with the government of Chur, kicks off the inaugural “Emna Rumantscha” dedicated to Switzerland’s fourth official language
“Rumantsch: in ferm toc Svizra” (Romansh: an essential part of Switzerland): this is the motto with which the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is launching the first Romansh language week in Switzerland and abroad.
On 19 February, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, in cooperation with the Canton of Graubünden and Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha (RTR), is inviting people to an online launch event dedicated to the fourth national language.
Together with its representations abroad, the FDFA wants to promote greater awareness of the Romansh language and culture, which is a key element in Switzerland’s national cohesion.
Four official languages since February 20, 1938
February 20, 1938 was a historic date for Swiss multilingualism. At that time, Romansh officially became a national language, along with German, French and Italian.
The FDFA has chosen this symbolic date to launch the first “Emna Rumantscha”, in addition to the “Days of Plurilingualism” and the activities organized on the occasion of the “Week of the Italian Language in the World” and the “Semaine de la Francophonie”.
Events that underline the importance of plurilingualism for national cohesion, but also for openness towards the outside world.
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The idea of the “Emna Rumantscha” was born two years ago on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Lia Rumantscha in Zuoz.
Strongly supported by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the project is taking shape thanks to the collaboration between several actors, both in Switzerland and abroad.
“Our Switzerland is composed of a multiplicity of identities and cultures that coexist peacefully. Romansh is a fundamental part of this. Multilingualism and diversity are a challenge and an asset at the same time: they teach us to resolve conflicts through dialogue, a Swiss quality that is in great demand around the world,” emphasizes Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis.
An online event dedicated to Romansh culture
This important collaboration with various partners, including the Canton of Graubünden and the Lia Rumantscha, is reflected in the launch event on February 19, 2021 (11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., live at www.rtr.ch).
From Bern, Romansh-speaking Switzerland and around the world, several voices will confront each other and try to answer the question: why is Romansh “in ferm toc Svizra”?
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and the President of the Graubünden government, Mario Cavigelli, will connect with students from the secondary school in Glion and then participate in a panel discussion, together with the Graubünden state councillor Jon Domenic Parolini and other protagonists of the Romansh language in various fields.
Ambassador Chasper Sarott and Aita Pult, two diplomats from the FDFA, will also contribute video messages from Madagascar and New York.
The contribution of Swiss representations abroad
The “Emna Rumantscha” is an opportunity to bring Swiss multilingualism back into the limelight. Stories and faces that speak Romansh, interviews, language courses, readings, videos, virtual meetings.
The Swiss representations abroad have taken steps to promote, within the limits granted by the COVID-19 pandemic, knowledge of the Romansh language and culture in their respective countries.
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“We excel in diplomacy,” adds Federal Councillor Cassis, “precisely because of our centuries of experience in bringing different identities and cultures together peacefully. We offer this knowledge on the international level, with good offices and mediation. Switzerland is therefore an important actor for peace, human rights and security in the world“.
From the FDFA to multilingualism and intercultural dialogue
The promotion of minority languages in Switzerland is also part of the structured and ongoing political dialogue that the head of the FDFA conducts with the cantons of Graubünden and Ticino.
In addition, Switzerland has a worldwide presence with around 170 representations in which some 2,300 local employees work. The variety of languages spoken in addition to Switzerland’s national languages is enormous.
The promotion of intercultural dialogue is therefore a central point of Swiss diplomacy.
