Linguist speaks at the U.N.

By Elise Franco

He was invited to discuss multilingualism at the U.N. headquarters.

CANFIELD — A lifelong Youngstown-area man’s job has led him to the United Nations.

Warren McClurg, principal for Lingua International, Bayer Corp. in Pittsburgh, was invited to give a speech Thursday at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

He said his speech, which focused on the importance of multilingualism in the workplace, was a part of the 2008 International Year of Languages seminar, “Linguistic Diversity, Globalization and Development,” organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and UNDPI (United Nations Department of Public Information).

“I’m stressing the importance of linguistic diversity,” said McClurg, who moved to Canfield five years ago. “My role is coming in to talk of the values of multilingualism in the workplace and the basically the benefits of it.”

He said he was extended an invitation by Helene-Marie Gosselin, UNESCO director, as one of many speakers on the issue of linguistics.

He said he was honored to represent his company at the U.N.

“It’s a mixed bag of emotions, as you can imagine,” McClurg said. “I’m just a kid from the West Side of Youngstown.”

He said he commutes from the Youngstown area to Pittsburgh because he’s always liked living here.

“I think family has kept me here, but also I think the community has a lot to offer,” McClurg said.

As a linguistics specialist, McClurg said he manages translation for Bayer Corp. throughout the world.

“I make sure the text is ‘Bayerized’ properly, that it has the right contextual feel,” he said.

McClurg said he thinks multilingualism is important not only from a corporation’s standpoint, but also from an individual one.

“It’s important because our vision and identities and dreams are all housed within language, allowing us to communicate with people,” he said. “We as humans seek out interactions.”

McClurg said language and interaction is a link from person to person and between cultures.

“It’s imperative we pay attention to that because if we don’t communicate we don’t thrive.”

efranco@vindy.com