Jakarta (UNAS) – In the framework of celebrating its 75th Anniversary, Universitas Nasional (UNAS), through the Center for Sociocultural Studies of the Archipelago (PSSN) and the Center for Resilience Studies (PUSATNAS), held an international conference entitled International Conference on Multidimensional Applied Linguistics 2024 (ICMAL). The event, which took place on Wednesday (13/11), invited several competent speakers in linguistics from various parts of the world.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive and one of the main speakers of ICMAL 2024, Iskandarsyah Siregar, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D, emphasized the importance of linguistics in solving various global problems. “Many of the problems we face in this world are rooted in misunderstandings in communication. Almost all problems boil down to communication, and linguistics should be able to solve many of these problems,” said Iskandarsyah. Likewise, other issues should be addressed through literature and semiotic codification, which may have existed since ancient times. The problem is, currently, these things need to be read by today’s humans. He hopes that this conference can provide a broader perspective on the role of linguistics in bridging various disciplines and becoming a holistic solution to multiple problems of civilization.
Prof. Dr. Ernawati Sinaga, M.S., Apt, UNAS Vice Chancellor for Research, Community Service, and Cooperation, also expressed her hope that this conference can open up opportunities for beneficial international collaboration. “This conference not only aims to discuss current issues in the field of linguistics but also to open up a space for collaboration that can provide long-term benefits,” she said.
One of the main agendas of this conference is the talk show session, where various current issues and developments in linguistics are discussed in depth. In addition, this conference also allows students to participate through video or live presentations and present their research results and scientific works in front of experts and practitioners.
The conference, which carried the theme “Building Innovative Solutions to Contemporary Challenges Through a Multidisciplinary Approach in Applied Linguistics”, was held in a hybrid manner at the Auditorium of the National University (UNAS). This event invited speakers from various countries, including Anton Tikhomirov, a representative from the Federation of Russian Embassies, as the keynote speaker. In his speech, Anton expressed his appreciation to the conference organizers and highlighted the importance of language in enriching individual lives. He quoted a proverb, “If a person speaks one language, he has one personality, one soul. However, if a person speaks many languages, he has many souls.” Anton also considered Indonesian a melodic, loud, and exciting language.
Furthermore, Anton emphasized the importance of language and linguistic learning in strengthening relations between nations. “Learning language and linguistics is important in bringing countries and cultures closer together. In an increasingly fragmented world, we really need common understanding and universal values,” he added. He hopes that the relationship between the Russian Embassy and UNAS can continue to grow, especially in terms of supporting language learning and cultural exchange in the future.
The conference also featured several highly competent international speakers, including Dr. Edrida Pulungan, SE, M.HI., M.Si, from the Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia; Samsur Rijal Yahya, S.S., MMLS., Ph.D., from the University of Malaya (Malaysia); Dr. Ahmed Ali Hamed Al-Ajmi, from Sohar University (Oman); and online Prof. Dr. Rozanna Mulyani, MA, from the University of North Sumatra.
The speakers in this activity shared their insights on applied linguistics and its application to contemporary challenges and introduced various multidisciplinary approaches that can be used to create innovative solutions.
This event was also attended by invited guests from several embassy representatives in Jakarta, representatives of several universities abroad, and Betawi cultural figure Yahya Andi Saputra, who also performed the art of “Buleng” at the end of the event.
With a highly relevant theme, this conference is expected to significantly contribute to strengthening the understanding of linguistics as a multidimensional discipline and increasing international cooperation in the fields of language and culture. Given the importance of cross-cultural experience in an increasingly developing and interconnected world, this conference opens up new opportunities to strengthen relations between countries and enrich shared knowledge. (TIN)
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