On 1 July, the UN celebrates the German language, an official language of the host countries of the United Nations Office at Geneva and the United Nations Office at Vienna as well as half a dozen European countries.
This celebration is inspired by the language days initiative launched by our Secretary-General in 2010 to promote multilingualism and the use of the official languages of the UN.
The date was chosen to mark the anniversary of the German Translation Section of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM), which started operating at UN Headquarters on 1 July 1975.
The diplomatic missions of the German-speaking Member States that fund the German Translation Section budget (namely Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland) have been hosting an annual celebration since 2021.
This year, the Austrian Cultural Forum New York (11 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022) is presenting a reading followed by a reception on 2 July 2024, at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6.30 p.m.). The event is free, but prior registration is required.
The event will focus on Austrian German in literature and translation and will feature a reading of the novel Blood Is Not Thicker than Water by Austrian author Daniela Emminger followed by a conversation with translator Alta Price about the joys and challenges of translating Austrian dialect into English.
The event will be conducted in English and German. For a programme and information about the presenters, click here.
In addition, the Deutsches Haus at NYU is offering free online German trial classes on Tuesday, 2 July, from 1‑1.30 p.m. EDT (beginners), 2‑2.30 p.m. EDT (intermediate) and 3‑3.30 p.m. EDT (advanced). Participation is open to all UN Secretariat staff members and the general public upon registering by email (no later than 12 p.m. on Monday, 1 July).
Please join us in celebrating German‑language literature, music, film, and culture. Dankeschön!
