FIFTITU% Networking Center for Women* in Art and Culture in Upper Austria invites you to an event focusing on language and its effect on the realities of people's lives. To what extent is it possible to use language that does not discriminate, that does not divide but includes, and that takes into account the principles of "simple language"?

"Reality creates language - does language create reality?"
Lecture and discussion with Andrea Petz

"Speech-Less"
Spoken word by Njideka Stephanie Iroh aka NJ

Interpreting into sign language: Emilia Racz

Stifterhaus Linz, Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 1, 4020 Linz (barrier-free)

Participation in the lecture is free of charge
Travel costs will be partially reimbursed if required.
A lump sum will be reimbursed for childcare.

Content of the lecture:
"Reality creates language - does language create reality?"

Information is omnipresent, whether in words or images. Communication, the transmission of information, is too.
Words and language, alongside images and non-verbal communication, for example, are a popular and strongly favored transmission channel for information.
Based on various general observations about information, language and communication, this presentation will look at the principles of "simple language".
It will work out how these principles can influence the lifeworlds of different users of information and communication and where their limits lie, also with regard to equal opportunity language.

Andrea Petz studied sociology at the Johannes Kepler University Linz. During her studies, she worked at the Institute for Integrated Studies in the field of document preparation for students with disabilities. Since graduating, she has been head of the "Social Integration" department at the Institute for Integrated Studies and conducts research in areas such as "ICT and access to the information and knowledge society for people with disabilities", "Simple Language" and "Design for All / Universal Design".

Njideka Stephanie Iroh (aka NJ) is a spoken word artist/poet who lives and works in Vienna. Part of the research group on Black Austrian history and present, a working group of the self-organization Pamoja - Movement of the Young African Diaspora in Austria. Working processes on Black empowerment with a focus on youth in the context of resistance and decolonization. Student at the University of Vienna.

Welcome by Petra Dallinger:

Dear ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Galerie im StifterHaus for an evening that is dedicated in a special way to a topic that seems everyday and self-evident, that for us, in a house of language and literature, is, so to speak, professional and everyday, and yet one whose social-philosophical dimension must be constantly reflected upon and renegotiated.
We are very pleased that FIFTITU% - Networking Center for Women in Art and Culture in Upper Austria has chosen the StifterHaus as the venue for the two events on the subject of language - the lecture and discussion evening today and the workshop tomorrow, 3 - 8 pm, and hope that all of you, speakers, participants and guests, will feel very much at home here

The relationship between language and reality has been discussed since antiquity with regard to a supposed congruence, to a hoped-for, possibly achievable congruence of the two phenomena; - questions about the connection between language and power, as participation in political processes, as belonging to social groups or as access to the symbolic order have been and are formulated differently in the context of feminism, feminist literary or language theory and gender discourses.

Language depicts reality, albeit certainly inadequately - at the same time, language creates reality(ies), has something like power or can confer power.

Language is an indispensable tool for the identity of groups, but also for each* and every* individual, even if it is not the only one and perhaps not even the most important one; language enables and hinders communication, even if there are other ways of communicating; - language is a system of signs and a strategy, etc.
In any case, it is necessary to be aware that we always "speak as" - in a role, a function, a very specific reference and relationship system

What language can or should be able to do, and what not, is always worth thinking about and talking about.
So have fun: Questioning language, mistrusting it and working on it ...
And finally: Silence can also be meaningful, significant or quite enjoyable - if women* and men* do it (only) voluntarily.

A fine evening at the StifterHaus!