Diversity of Books in Various Languages ​​Enriches Insight

World Book Day is a moment to celebrate the power and beauty of books.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

A child reads a book in the Gramedia mini library at Bogor Besar Station, Bogor City, West Java, Saturday (2/3/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Language diversity in books will greatly strengthen literacy and information. Language holds meanings, cultures, and values that can provide insights and knowledge in understanding the diversity of nations in the world.

The celebration of World Book and Copyright Day on Tuesday (23/4/2024) was a moment to celebrate the power and beauty of books. In all their forms, books enable people to learn and continuously gain information.

"Books also entertain us and help us understand the world, while also opening windows to differences. Books are invitations to travel and meet other people: every new page opened, another world appears before our eyes," said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay during the commemoration of World Book and Copyright Day in 2024 on Tuesday.

Also read: Light of Civilization through Books

In order for books to unleash their full potential, according to Audrey, they must reflect the diversity of languages ​​in the world. Every written language carries a certain worldview with its own symbols and values.

However, that is not the case at present. The majority of works are only published in a few languages. In fact, digital technology creates linguistic homogenization issues.

According to Audrey, as part of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages ​​(IDIL), which was launched in 2022, UNESCO supports the publication of books in indigenous and regional languages. Since 2023, UNESCO is collaborating with publishers around the world to publish What Makes Us Human by Victor DO Santos and Anna Forlati. This illustrated children's book celebrates linguistic and cultural richness in 14 languages, including Mapuche, Galician, and Marathi.

UNESCO also supports the book industry in Africa, especially the sector devoted to books for young people. To help tell the history of slavery and discuss its impact on the world today, in 2022 the seriesBintou & Issawas launched in collaboration with publisher Langages du Sud. The aim of this series is to make children aware of the subject from an early age.

In 2024, in collaboration with Langages du Sud on the occasion of the International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat, Morocco, in May 2024, the first volume of the series Les Balades de Nour will be launched. This book invites Morocco's young generation to learn about their UNESCO-listed cultural heritage from a different perspective.

We must ensure everyone has access to knowledge and reflection through books and reading.

World Book and Copyright Day is a celebration aimed at promoting the pleasure of books and reading. April 23rd was chosen as a symbolic date in world literature. It is the date of the death of several renowned writers, namely William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. This date was chosen during the UNESCO General Conference in Paris in 1955 to pay tribute to books and writers worldwide on this date and encourage everyone to access books.

Not yet connected

Separately, librarian and literacy activist Wien Muldian said that the challenges of books in Indonesia are not only related to reading awareness and culture. There are also regulations that do not regulate book access optimally. This issue of book access is caused by a lack of connection between book regulations, libraries, education, and cultural advancement.

“However, interconnected regulations play a significant role in ensuring a diversity of book titles in one region. The goal is for every school or library to have a variety of collections to rotate so that children and the community can access various quality readings,” said Wien, who is also one of the founders of Baca library in Tebet.

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Librarian and literacy activist Wien Muldian

According to Wien, diversity in books, including in regional languages, will support the provision of book collections that meet the needs, interests, and competencies of the community. The presence of these diverse books should have an impact on the lives of the community. Unfortunately, the diversity of books from various regions has not been fully explored.

"We shouldn't just stop at simple things, namely providing reading books. "We have to start getting into the essence of books," he said.

In addition, he stated that the community's ability to utilize books in building life skills should be a concern. From his recent visit to Singapore, the library supports the community's life skills by providing classes such as cooking and 3D printing.

Book capital of the world

The existence of books in various forms remains respected globally. World Book and Copyright Day celebrations are held around the world to recognize the scope of books as a connection between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and cultures.

Also read: Literacy Expanded to Empowerment Missions

Every year, UNESCO selects a World Book Capital for one year to maintain, through its own initiative, the momentum of celebrating World Book Day. To date, 25 cities in the world have been designated, with the latest being Rio de Janeiro for 2025. In Southeast Asia, Bangkok (Thailand) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) have been chosen before.

Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital are working to promote books and reading for all ages and groups, both within and across national borders, as well as to organize programs and activities for that year. In 2024, the city of Strasbourg (France) was designated as the World Book Capital.

Strasbourg has a strong focus on books to face the challenges of social tension and climate change, through programs such as Reading for the Planet. The city emphasizes the ability of books to encourage debates and discussions on environmental issues and scientific knowledge, with a focus on the younger generation as agents of change.

Strasbourg is also praised for its literary heritage and the activities it organizes highlight many artistic disciplines, ranging from music to theater and illustration. The city has significant experience in organizing large-scale events with an outward-looking perspective.

In this uncertain time, many people turn to books as a place of refuge and a source of inspiration. "It's true that books have a unique ability to entertain and educate. This is why we must ensure that everyone has access to knowledge and reflection through books and reading," said Audrey.