ANPLinda Nooitmeer, chairman of the NiNsee slavery institute
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 13:36
The chairman of the NiNsee slavery institute, Linda Nooitmeer, is on the radio program The Language State was named Language State Master of 2023. This award is intended for someone who stood out this year because of their language use. Nooitmeer was presented the prize this afternoon by NPO Radio 1 presenter Frits Spits.
The jury believes that 49-year-old Nooitmeer made an impression with her speech at the National Commemoration of the Past of Slavery in July. She stated at the time that action must be taken against the dormant racism that “has nestled in the recesses of our deepest thoughts and asserts itself at crucial moments”. “With the strength of our ancestors, we make our way through the swamp of exclusion,” she said.
“Very impressive, empathetic and depolarizing,” are the reactions of the panel members of De Taalstaat. They call Nooitmeer a great speaker in language use, word choice, diction and rhetoric. She can also “maintain her reasonableness and composure in a quickly heated debate, allowing her to represent large and difficult to unite groups.” An “extra important talent in a time of increasing polarization”, according to a panel member.
A bit quiet
Nooitmeer was surprised that she was even eligible for the prize, it turned out in the broadcast of The Language State. “It’s super special, a kind of positive by-catch. When I’m working on NiNsee’s work, I mainly look at the end result. It doesn’t dawn on me at all that so much attention is paid to the language.”
But she is certainly proud. “It makes me a bit silent. It’s nice that people listened carefully and that what I want to convey apparently resonates.” Especially when it comes to slavery, this is not always clear, says Nooitmeer. “We have a common goal. But will we get there? Do people understand it and do I explain it well? But do I also leave room for the emotion that is there? Finding the balance in this is sometimes difficult.”
The other two nominees for the Language State Master prize were Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema and NOS reporter Sander van Hoorn. Last year, Russia correspondent Iris de Graaf of the NOS received the prize for her clear way of explaining things.
2023-12-30 12:36:59
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