Timor-Leste Bids to Host International Portuguese Writers Summit
Timor-Leste has stepped forward with an ambitious bid to host the next Meeting of Portuguese Language Writers, a move aimed at revitalizing the language in the Southeast Asian nation. The proposal was announced on Wednesday during the 14th edition of the gathering, currently taking place in Praia, Cape Verde.
A Strategic Move for Language Growth
Tomás do Rosário Cabral, Timor-Leste’s Minister of State Administration, formally expressed his government’s readiness to host the event in the capital city of Dili. Speaking on the second day of the summit, Cabral emphasized that hosting the prestigious literary circle could serve as a powerful catalyst for the Portuguese language’s resurgence in his country.
Timor-Leste faces unique linguistic hurdles. The minister highlighted the long-lasting impact of the Indonesian occupation, the rising influence of English, the widespread use of Tetum, and the country’s geographic isolation from other Lusophone nations. Despite these challenges, Cabral noted that the government is actively integrating Portuguese back into public administration and community life, bolstered by ongoing support from Portugal.
UCCLA Welcomes the Challenge
The Secretary-General of the Union of Portuguese-Speaking Capital Cities (UCCLA), Paula Leal da Silva, responded enthusiastically to the invitation. Reacting to the minister’s proposal, she stated that the organization “goes where they want us to go,” signaling a strong possibility that the summit will move to Asia for its next iteration after 14 years in Cape Verde.
The Global Reach of Portuguese
The theme for this year’s meeting, “The Portuguese Language as an element of adaptation in a changing world,” sparked diverse discussions on the language’s role as a secondary tongue outside the Lusophone world.
The event featured testimonies from international figures, including Croatian translator and researcher Meri Grubic, who translates Portuguese poetry into her native tongue. Additionally, Galician writer Maria do Rosário Bello spoke passionately about the linguistic ties between Galicia and the Lusophone world, describing Galician as “Portuguese with a different accent” and recounting how her grandmother spoke to her in Portuguese, reinforcing the language’s status as her mother tongue.
The XIV Meeting of Portuguese Language Writers, organized by UCCLA and the Praia City Council, continues through Saturday, exploring how one of the world’s most spoken languages continues to evolve and bridge cultures across continents.
Image: Pexels – Vinicius Silva
