Participate in the Terra Mosana project

Terra Mosana is a Euregional project which studies the common history of the Meuse-Rhine Euregion. The languages of the present and the past belong to this history. We would like to know, and let everyone hear, the richness of languages and dialects that are spoken between the Meuse and the Rhine.

Consequently, the aim of this project is to gather spoken messages of people pronouncing several short sentences, in which the shared history of the Euregio is depicted, in their own dialect(s)/language(s). These messages will be compiled into a sonic artwork. This sonic artwork will be used in exhibitions, films, podcasts, etc. in the course of the Terra Mosana project.

Participants are invited to send a voice recording via WhatsApp (before 15 March 2020) to the dedicated phone number (+31 6 8747 3826) in which they translate several sentences into their own language(s) or dialect(s). This can be a local dialect, their native language(s) or a language from abroad; whatever they feel comfortable with.

Participants will send a voice recording in which they translate the following sentences into their own language(s)/dialect(s):

1. The inhabitants of the Meuse and the Rhine share one history. We understand each other, regardless of national borders.
2. The Romans introduced new knowledge, techniques and rules. They created unity in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion.
3. Who knows queen Gerberga? She was a powerful woman who, right before the year 1000, ruled over the Western part of Francia, a large kingdom in North-Western Europe. She also owned a lot of land in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion.
4. Many pilgrims visited churches and monasteries in the Middle Ages. This generated work and earnings.
5. Armies continuously sieged cities in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion. Wars were fought which lead to a lot of damage and poverty.
6. Romans, Franks, Germans, French, but also artisans from Italy: they all came here to live and work. The Meuse-Rhine Euregion has known immigration for centuries.
7. From Saint Servatius to Lambert of Maastricht, from Heinrich von Veldeke to d’Artagnan: many stories tell the past between the Meuse and the Rhine.

Participants are also asked to leave:

1. Their name (optional);
2. Their place of residence;
3. In what language(s)/dialect(s) the sentences were translated and read aloud.

Please note: GDPR is applicable.

For other translations of the seven sentences, please see here.