Our Comparative Literature Department student, Zehra Yedidal, delivered a presentation titled "Lessons in Extinction and Survival: Akkadian and Modern Approaches to Language Preservation" on November 23 at the Undergraduate Conference organized by the Department of Western Languages and Literatures at Boğaziçi University.
In her presentation, what she discussed was the dynamic relationship between the extinction and preservation of languages, with a particular focus on the Sumerian case. She highlighted how Akkadian scribal schools played a crucial role in preserving Sumerian through education, cultural prestige, and ideological efforts, ensuring its survival as a language of scholarship and ritual. By drawing comparisons with modern initiatives like the Enheduanna Society, she examined contemporary approaches to safeguarding endangered languages through art, storytelling, and education.
Zehra Yedidal’s exploration emphasized the significant role of human action in preventing language decline and revitalizing endangered linguistic traditions. Ultimately, she underscored the broader cultural and ideological significance of preserving languages as living symbols of heritage and identity.
