On the morning of August 26, 2024, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, alongside the Minister of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Arbërie Nagavci, welcomed the participants of the 42nd International Seminar on Albanian Language, Literature, and Culture.
Founded in 1974, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the seminar, which has gathered approximately 300 participants, including Albanologists from around the world.
Kurti expressed his honor at hosting these scholars of Albanian language, literature, and culture, and thanked them for their ongoing commitment and valuable contributions through their participation in the seminar.
He added that the impact of the work of language, literature, and culture scholars is evident everywhere—both in the people who work with and promote our language and literature, and in the works that are read and published.
Kurti also spoke about the importance of the history of the language and the history of our people, noting that they cannot be separated or studied independently of each other.
The discussion also covered the relationship between language use and technological development, particularly concerning artificial intelligence, including associated opportunities and risks.
The government, through the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MAShTI), has supported the organization of this seminar. This year, thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Pristina, the government will continue to support other initiatives aimed at the study, recognition, and exploration of our language, literature, culture, and history.
This year’s event features some of the most prominent figures in Albanology and linguistics, including linguist Brian Joseph, academic Ranko Matasović, Professor José Manuel Floristán Imizcoz, lecturer Phil Hubbard (returning to the event after 47 years), Albanologist Rexhep Ismajli, and historian Oliver Jens Schmitt.
