The LISTEN-SPEAK truck opened its doors for the first time on March 19 and 20 during the inauguration of the Cité internationale de la langue française at the Château de Villers-Cotterêts. On this occasion, more than 500 people were able to visit the Mobile Language Laboratory. This event took place as part of the 27th edition of the French Language and Francophonie Week.
A participatory arts and sciences project
The originality of the project lies in a dialogue between artistic and scientific approaches. Led by the DGLFLF, the project was initiated through a collaboration between linguists and the artist Guykayser to develop a program of “conversational devices.” Various objects, including conversational capsules, helped prefigure the design of the mobile laboratory. They are designed to facilitate sound recordings while offering an immersive environment for didactic and artistic uses.
The dialogue between arts and sciences also continues with the creation of digital works, one of which is “on board” the truck: Spoken Topography – a work by Guykayser, an interactive walk through the landscape of the languages of France.
General Coordination: Paul de Sinety, General Delegate for the French Language and the Languages of France
Advisor for Territorial Action to the General Delegate: Claire Extramiana
- Scientific Director, Project Manager: Olivier Baude (CNRS and DGLFLF)
- Project Coordinator: Thomas Chrétien (Paris Nanterre University)
- Associate Artist and Designer of the device: Guykayser
- Audio and IT Development: Gérard Paresys
- IT Development: Laurent Malys
- Visual Identity: Ruedi and Vera Baur, Maxime Leleux (dix—milliards—humains)
