Rojas-Berscia originally comes from Lima, Peru. "The world is my laboratory," he says. "As a researcher, I immerse myself in the Nimweegs dialect. Meanwhile, my work has also taken me to Australia and back to Peru for three years to study indigenous dialects in the sand desert. I fully understand that being able to travel so much and explore the world is a privilege. With my current project, I want to show that you don’t have to travel far to find great linguistic diversity."
During the first warm weekend in March, like many other Nijmegen residents, Rojas-Berscia was sitting on the terrace at Achtertuin. While he was certainly listening to his friends’ conversations, he also kept his ears open to the people around him. "I noticed that Polish was being spoken as well."
City Linguist
To recognise and distinguish all these languages, you must be a language genius. As a city linguist, Rojas-Berscia is a hyperpolyglot, meaning he speaks more than eleven languages. In fact, he has lost count but estimates he speaks nearly twenty - ranging from English to Piedmontese, from Italian to Chinese, and from German to three indigenous languages (Quechua, Shawi, Kukatja). Raised trilingually (Spanish and Italian at home, plus Piedmontese with his grandmother), languages were ingrained in him from an early age.
He never forgets a language he has learned and picks up new ones quickly. A Peruvian researcher who understands Nimweegs and has lived in Nijmegen for over five years—a city that now feels like home - was a perfect candidate to be crowned "city linguist." Rojas-Berscia explains: "I see myself as the representative of multilingualism in Nijmegen."
But how many languages and dialects are actually spoken in the city? And which ones? Preliminary research findings suggest that more than 25 languages are spoken in Nijmegen, including Western Armenian, Syrian, Arabic, Dari (a Persian dialect), Arnhem dialect, Groesbeeks, and, of course, Nimweegs. "Nijmegen is more multilingual than we think," Rojas-Berscia notes.
Nimweegs
The doors of his office are covered with Nijmegen slogans like "Nimweegs mot blieve" ("Nimweegs must stay"). Inside, a lot of books from various countries in multiple languages. Some stand out in a special "display," including Nijntje Git Fietse Ien ’t Nimweegs ("Miffy Goes Cycling in Nimweegs"). "It’s a great milestone that Dick Bruna’s masterpieces are now available in dialects. Where dialects were once considered ‘the language of the streets, spoken by the unrefined,’ this is now a sign of pride. The goal is to keep the dialect alive and pass it on to the next generation."
His bookshelf also proudly holds Nijmegen dialect dictionaries like Zeg 't mar op z'n Nimwèègs and Kie(k) däör, wà röär. Fittingly displayed, as March is Dialect Month. Whenever he flips through them, he discovers a new surprising word. Laughing, he shares his latest find: "This is such a fun one: ‘luîmerik.’ Do you know what it means? Someone who sleeps a lot! Even I keep getting surprised by the dialect!"
Exploring the city
With his research, the city linguist aims to map out Nijmegen’s linguistic diversity. Together with students, he is on a mission to discover the city’s languages by interviewing as many residents as possible. Each participant is asked to say "I live in Nijmegen" in their own language. So far, 180 people have recorded their voices. With great ambition, Rojas-Berscia continues: "I want to reach the entire city!"
These interviews will be transformed into an artistic project by sound artist Elise ’t Hart, who is crafting an audiovisual artwork from the voices and sounds. In March, she is an artist-in-residence at the Besiendershuis, where she is composing the piece. "We use language every day, but because it’s so ordinary, we don’t really listen to it," Elise explains. She sees this project as an opportunity to pause and truly hear voices, sounds, and tones. "It reminds us to pay closer attention to the people around us."
Listen to a preview of the artwork
Would you like to contribute to this research and artwork? Click the button below, fill out the questionnaire, and record your language. (You will first receive an information document asking for your consent to use the data).
Nijmegen Language Capital
On Friday 23 May 2025, during the Nijmegen Language Capital festival, the city linguist will be officially inaugurated, and Elise ’t Hart’s artwork will be presented. The City Linguist Project is organised in collaboration with Besiendershuis.
