Here at Wikimedia Community Ireland, we are still processing co-hosting the Celtic Knot Minority Languages Conference with Wikimedia UK in Waterford in September. Among our scholarship recipients, we had students from the University of Dortmund join us at the conference.
Hannah Yule Heetmann and Joanna Dieckmann are studying language policy and planning under the guidance of the wonderful Dr. Maggie Glass, who was one of the Keynote Speakers at the conference. The students made a very insightful presentation titled ‘Unpacking Power Dynamics in Language Policy: Auxiliary Verbs in Ireland’s 20-Year Strategy for Irish’ at the conference.
In the presentation, they demonstrated just how significant the way actions and responsibilities are framed within policy. They explored how the language used in the policy can offer insight into broader issues of language planning and policy execution. They also raised the critical questions of the impact that language use can have on the effectiveness of achieving policy objectives, for instance promoting the Irish language. They also explored how raising these issues can be a valuable opportunity to create more effective provisions for language revitalisation initiatives.
You can watch a recording of their presentation below and find all the presentations from Celtic Knot 2024 here.
They also kindly offered some reflections on their experience of Celtic Knot, which you can read below to get an idea of what it was like to attend Celtic Knot 2024 from their perspectives.
I had the amazing chance to attend and present at the Celtic Knot Conference 2024—a journey that took me from my usual academic life to the heart of Waterford. Together with my friend and fellow language enthusiast, Joanna Dieckmann, I stepped into the world of open knowledge and linguistic diversity with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Presenting at a conference for the first time, especially as a student, felt pretty intimidating! There’s nothing quite like that familiar, persistent feeling of imposter syndrome sneaking in. But the moment we arrived, all those worries started to fade. The Celtic Knot team and the incredible welcome from attendees created such a supportive space—it was clear that we all shared a common passion. I didn’t have to be anything other than myself to feel like I belonged.
What stood out to me most were the connections I made and the truly inspiring feedback we received after our presentation. Not only did people resonate with our topic, but many came up afterwards with thoughtful questions and enthusiastic comments that sparked some fresh perspectives for me. Their insights were so encouraging and have even influenced how I’m approaching my bachelor’s thesis. It’s amazing to think that something we shared could spark meaningful conversations with others, and their feedback has inspired me to dive deeper into my research with renewed excitement.
The conference also offered sessions covering a range of languages and topics I’d never encountered before, each sparking new curiosity and ideas. Being part of this community gave me a richer understanding of how we can work to keep languages thriving and accessible for everyone.
Huge thanks to the Wikimedia team and everyone behind the scenes who made this event such a special experience.
I left Waterford with fresh knowledge, valuable connections, and new inspiration for my own academic journey.
I’m already looking forward to the next steps, both in my studies and in my involvement with this amazing community.
-Hannah Yule Heetmann
I had the incredible chance along with my dear friend Hannah Yule Heetmann to present at Celtic Knot 2024. It was my first time attending a conference as a guest and also as a speaker, and I am already nervous when I have to present in a course. I am a bachelor’s student and to be honest, I had major imposter syndrome all the way from my home city to Waterford. But thanks to the incredible team surrounding the conference, I only had to worry about not falling face-first on my way to the stage. The friendliness of Ireland I learned to love extended to the attendees of the conference, and I made some, hopefully, long-lasting connections during that week. What really stuck with me was the
statement that “we’re all just nerds here”. This made me realize that everyone in and surrounding that conference really just wants to share their passion for language, and I will be forever grateful that the Wikimedia team made it not only possible for me to attend, but also put so much unseen effort into this event to make it a truly unforgettable experience.
-Joanna Dieckmann“We’re all just nerds here” Students from TU Dortmund and Dr. Maggie Glass. Benjicarter, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
