Friendly Borders
An artifact, whether a Hopi urn, a Maori carving, or an Edo period woodblock print is a tangible representation of the culture which produced it. Languages, both living and intangible by nature, are even more fragile, and therefore more precious cultural artifacts. It is in the same custodial spirit that we seek to showcase and preserve individual languages and the very cultures from which they sprang, without regard with political considerations that often attend questions of ethnicity.
Friendly Borders strives to preserve ancient and modern cultures and languages around the world. Our small but dynamic and dedicated staff is particularly concerned about cultures that are being threatened by the inroads of modernization and could disappear in the near future due to assimilation.
Founded in 2004, Friendly Borders has set a number of ambitious goals itself, with the aim of protecting world cultures and languages from extinction.
By Vichheka Sok
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – The Khmer New Year is one of the major celebrations in Cambodian culture. This is a happy time when the radio plays Khmer traditional music for special ceremonies, and farmers enjoy the fruits of their harvest and relax before the rainy season begins. The New Year is based on the lunar calendar, and is celebrated in mid-April, which is the first month of the year in Cambodia. An astrologer determines the exact date upon which the celebration will be held. This time of year also represents the end of the harvest, and before the Khmer New Year the … Continue reading
