Happy World Book and Copyright Day!

The proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly of 2008 as International Year of Languages invites us moreover to reconsider another dimension of books which complements those mentioned above: the linguistic dimension of publishing.

Books are in fact a means of expression which live through language and in language. Every book is written, produced, exchanged, used and appreciated in a specific linguistic framework. When selecting their language, authors are also selecting their readers, who should be able to understand what they write. Translation helps to build linguistic bridges leading to new books and new readers.

—Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO

In that case: Happy International Year of Languages too!

Comments

[Stefanie]

Happy World Book and Copyright Day! And Happy Year of Languages too! I love the poster art.

[wil]

Happy Copyright/Royalty Day!©!®!™! (oh yeah, Book Day too!)

[Sylvia]

I know the copyright part doesn't sound very romantic but the website makes a good point about copyright making it possible for an economy to develop around writing and publishing. We take it for granted here where there's no black market in books but elsewhere it's a serious issue for writers.

[J.D.]

As an English teacher who often has trouble getting kids to read, I am just short of amazed that there are places in the world where books are red-hot black market items.

It is really hard to get kids to see what a privilege it is to have any book available overnight with the click of a button.

I'm completely against selling an author's work on the black market -- but, paradoxically, I'm also inspired that there are people out there who want books badly enough to buy them underground, as if they were a spare kidney or some bone marrow.

I guess your perspective depends on what you see every day.

[Sylvia]

Heh. Books and spare kidneys. :D

[Don]

FYI, I posted a link to this entry on a list of blogs that mention the International Year of Languages.