To promote the exchange and discussion of mother tongue and self-identity, the Macau Model United Nations Promotion Association (MMUNPA) and Macau Language Exchange & Culture Promotion Association (LECPA) co-organised a small interactive workshop on May 8th.
The event featured a number of sessions, including an interactive social experiment, a slang guessing game, guest sharing, and group discussions to enrich participants' exchange.
Two guests were invited to the event: Ms. Guiomar Pedruco, Miss Macau and local influencer, and Mr. Giulio Acconci, the vocalist of Soler and local artist. Growing up in a multilingual and multicultural environment, the two guests shared various anecdotes and challenges encountered, and reflected on their mother tongue and its impact on their identities.
The event attracted more than 30 university and secondary students and youth professors to join in-depth discussions on topics including the definition and conservation of mother tongue, how slangs can portray local culture and customs, the issue of foreign language coverage, and the transmission and conservation of Macanese language Patuá, as well as Cantonese.
During the discussion, participants also shared their perspectives on the importance of languages and dialects in their own development, cultural preservation, and shaping a distinct city. The organizers hope to improve participants' understanding of their mother tongue and slangs, strengthen their sense of identity, and raise community awareness of mother tongue with this event.