The Living Language Lab

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The Living Language Lab

The Living Language Lab is an interactive exhibition on languages at the Vigdís International Centre of Multilingualism and Intercultural Understanding. The exhibition is one of the centre’s contributions to the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, proclaimed by the United Nations for the period of 2022–2032.

The Living Language Lab provides a cross-section of the vast language spectrum of the Earth, from the biggest world languages, with hundreds of millions of speakers, to small and endangered ones. Visitors will learn about the many sides of languages with the help of interactive multimedia and hear the voices of the various languages spoken in Iceland today. They will get an overview of how languages have developed alongside human history for more than 300,000 years and how they have migrated and spread across the globe. Finally, guests become acquainted with the life-cycle of languages which, like other living organisms, are created, change and develop, and eventually may become extinct.

Video on the Living Language Lab.

The Living Language Lab was produced at the Vigdís International Centre in collaboration with andrúm architects and Gagarín. It is a part of the Centre's contribution to the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, IDIL 2022–2032, declared by the United Nations. 

School groups are invited to receive a guided tour of the Living Language Lab during the months of January-May and September-November. The target group is 10-19-year-olds, but we can receive other groups upon agreement. Please book your visit here

Project leader
Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir

Curators
Birna Arnbjörnsdóttir
Halldóra Jóhanna Þorláksdóttir

Manuscript
Vigdís International Centre

Exhibition design
andrúm architects and Gagarín

Interactive media
Gagarín

Interior
andrúm architects

Lighting design
Lumex

Translations
Vigdís International Centre

Constructions of exhibits
University of Iceland
Járnprýði

AV Equipment
Origo

Print
Logoflex

Sound design
Upptekið

Steering Group
Halldóra Jóhanna Þorláksdóttir
Eyjólfur Már Sigurðsson
María Th. Ólafsdóttir

Staff
Alfa Magdalena B Jórunnardóttir
Unnur Aldred
Stefán Þór Sigurðsson

Sponsored by
Children's Culture Fund
Student's Innovation Fund

Special thanks
Anh-Đào Katrín Tran, Anna María Bogadóttir, Arjun Singh, Banu Naimy, Betsy Hassett, Cat Gundry Beck, Clara Anne Jégousse, Davor Purusic, Henríetta Skúladóttir, Jeta Ejupi, Kateryna Ruban, Lemke Meijer, Naomi L. Loabile, Nils Wiberg, Nury Homola, Olga Aletta Roux, Shu Yi, Sosefo Manafa Kata, Stanisław Jan Petruk, Theodóra Skúladóttir, Tsering Gyal, Viktoría Žiliutė, Yerim Kim, Ylfa Aino Eldon Aradóttir. Anna Sigríður Einarsdóttir, Ásdís Rósa Magnúsdóttir, Bergur Arnar Hrafnkell Jónsson, Gregg Batson, Diljá Þorbjargardóttir, Hringur Ásgeir Sigurðarson, Julian Meldon D’Arcy, Katelin Parsons, Matthew Whelpton, Rafnhildur Rósa Atladóttir, Rósa Signý Gísladóttir, Valgerður Jónasdóttir, Þorgerður Anna Björnsdóttir, Þórhallur Eyþórsson. Canadian Museum for Human Rights.