SINGAPORE, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The 22nd annual Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) kicks off on Friday here under the theme of "A Language of Our Own."
This year's edition will invite the audience to reflect on different types of languages and how they have the power to create a sense of belonging as well as displacement.
Some of these programs include the "Words We Love" series which will examine four words and phrases Singaporeans love and the richness of meaning they offer, and "Chatbots and the Human Connection" which will explore what chatbot research shows about society's language habits. A chatbot is an artificial intelligence program that simulates human conversation through voice commands or text chats or both.
The festival will also feature a line-up of influential writers from Singapore and overseas, some of whom are featured for the first time in Asia.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at the National Gallery Singapore here Friday, first-time festival director Pooja Nansi said, "Language is complex and it reveals so much about us. It speaks to identity, to family, to history, to power and to place. I hope this year's theme allows all of us to spend some time thinking about what it means to have a language of our own."
This year's country of focus is Canada, with 10 highly acclaimed Canadian writers participating at the festival. SWF will also have a Southeast Asian focus, as well as incorporate the use of technology in their programs in order to create more multi-faceted experiences for audience members, and reach out to new audiences.
Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Sim Ann, who also spoke at the event, said the theme of language is "especially poignant for a multi-cultural, multi-racial country like Singapore."
This is especially as Singapore constantly seeks the "right balance" between celebrating its unique identity, heritage and language, while ensuring an inclusive and cohesive society through a common means of communication and mutual understanding across all segments of society, she said.
Organized by the National Arts Council (NAC), SWF will run on Nov. 1-10, featuring over 250 diverse writers and thinkers.
