The Department of Foreign Languages at Towson University announces a conference, ?Forging Linguistic Identities? to be held on March 14-16, 2013, and invites proposals for papers. The conference seeks to examine language as socially embedded within historical and geographical contexts. Possible topics might include, but not be limited to:
– Dialects/diglossia and their role in group identity formation
– The standardization of national and/or majority language(s) and its impact on national or regional politics
– Multi-lingualism in states and regions and its negotiation and practice by the communities of use.
– Use(s) of indigenous languages under transnational states
– National reception of dialect/minority-language literature and verbal culture
– Migration
– Translation studies
The scope of the conference is not limited by region, language, or time period. Proposals involving languages taught by the Department of Foreign Languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Ancient Greek, Biblical and Modern Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish) are especially encouraged.
Faculty at all ranks are encouraged to participate. Travel costs will be assumed by the participants. We will offer discounted hotel rooms near campus, and a graduated scale of conference fees.
A peer-reviewed publication of selected acts is tentatively planned.
Proposals are welcomed across disciplines, from scholars of languages and literatures, geography, history, psychology and sociology.
Please send an abstract of 250 words by email to:
Prof. George McCool
Email: {gmccool@towson.edu}
Office: LA 4152
Phone: 410-704-2875
Please include a short CV, maximum 2 pages, with your name, full address, institution affiliation, day telephone, fax and email address.
Deadline for submissions is September 16, 2012.
