linguistic identity

Russia needs new approach to migration after concert attack, Putin says

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Russia needs new approach to migration after concert attack, Putin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a new approach to migration after Tajiks living in Russia were detained for a deadly attack on a concert hall outside Moscow. Islamic State claimed responsibility, but Russia suspects Ukraine’s involvement. Putin emphasized the need to update migration policy to ensure only those who respect Russian culture can live and work in the country. Despite limitations, migrants from Central Asia play a vital role in Russia’s economy. Putin stressed the importance of preserving interethnic harmony and cultural identity. Tajiks have been leaving Russia since the attack, with reports of police raids against unregistered migrants.

UCY, ’s Second Science Café dispels Cypriot dialect myths

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UCY, ’s Second Science Café dispels Cypriot dialect myths

The Second Science Café, organized by the University of Cyprus (UCY) with support from the Bank of Cyprus (BoC), aimed to dispel myths about the Cypriot dialect. The event took place on February 29 at Aglantzia’s Caffè Nero, featuring UCY Lecturer in Linguistics Spyros Armostis and author Antonis Georgiou as hosts. Armostis emphasized the importance of public engagement in scientific and artistic discourse regarding language, while Georgiou discussed the freedom of choosing a linguistic medium for self-expression and the value of effective language use over form. They addressed topics such as language usage in education, the Cypriot dialect’s ability to convey complex ideas, its relationship with modern Greek, and the importance of its preservation. Armostis holds a PhD and MPhil in Linguistics from the University of Cambridge, specializing in phonetics, phonology, socio-linguistics, and clinical linguistics, with research in Cypriot Greek and Cypriot Arabic. Georgiou, a Limassol-based lawyer with a prolific literary career, has received national and international acclaim, including prestigious awards and theatrical adaptations of his novels. The University of Cyprus organizes Science Cafés and a Science Talks podcast series on Spotify to promote informal scientist-public interactions and combat misinformation.