Linguists Collective Conference & International Mother Language Day IMLD Celebration
Linguists Collective Conference & International Mother
Language Day Celebration
Saturday, 21st February 2026
Language, Culture and Identity in the Diaspora and Homeland in the Latvian Case
In this session, Valda Liepina examines the relationship between language, culture and identity through the lens of mother-tongue translation. She challenges the assumption that native speakers, particularly those who have grown up in diaspora communities or who work across two equally strong languages, automatically possess complete mastery of their mother language. Drawing on her own experiences translating and working in Latvia and Australia, as well as managing translators at the European Commission, Valda explores how diaspora mother-tongue skills stand the test of time. Her talk highlights the surprises, challenges and cultural revelations that can emerge when translating into or from one’s mother language, and the importance of continually refining these skills in professional translation practice.
About Liepiņa
Ms. Valda Selga Liepiņa was born and raised in Australia and has an extensive academic and professional background spanning linguistics, education, and translation. She holds degrees in botany and genetics from Monash University), Latvian and linguistics from the University of Melbourne/Flinders University, and education from the University of Sydney, along with qualifications in speech and drama from Trinity College London. A NAATI-accredited translator and interpreter for Latvian and English, she has served as Head of both the Latvian and English Translation Units at the European Commission in Luxembourg. Since returning to Latvia, she has chaired the Association of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia and continues to advocate for language preservation and cultural understanding. Her lifelong contribution to public service and language promotion has been recognised through the Order of the Three Stars and other national commendations from the Republic of Latvia.