gsc
Conference
Wednesday, 16 April, 2025
Time
12 PM
Place
GUST
title

CALL FOR PAPERS

Drawing on Bakhtin’s (1981) notion of linguistic hybridity and its extension to cultural hybridity (Sanches-Stockhammer, 2012; Marotta, 2020), this research conference is aimed at exploring various aspects of cultural hybridity in the context of societies whose cultural and linguistic heritage has been impacted by global trends, such as the influence of the English language and Anglophone cultures on local business, politics, science, technology, or entertainment. For example, the Arabian Gulf countries today are experiencing the rise of such phenomena as linguistic and cultural hybridity as reflected in the dynamic interplay between traditional cultural values and contemporary global pressures (Al-Issa & Dahan, 2011; Siemund, Al Issa & Leimgruber, 2021; Hopkyns, 2020; Zoghbor, 2023), including the adoption of English as the language of scholarship and higher education, to the near exclusion of Modern Standard Arabic (Belhia & Elhami, 2015; Zoghbor, 2023). Th younger, university-educated, multilingual generations seems to be especially adept at navigating effortlessly between various cultural and linguistic spheres, creating a complex and multifaceted landscape that is both rooted in tradition and open to the influences of the wider world. This fusion of cultures and languages not only defines contemporary identity but also highlights the adaptability and resilience of modern citizens in the face of evolving global dynamics. We invite paper proposals that explore these themes in all societal contexts in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. The proposed conference themes offer a diverse exploration of how global linguistics intersect with the preservation and expression of local identities.Limited travel funding may be available. We aim to publish the revised papers as articles/chapters in either a refereed special issue of a journal or as an edited volume.

Conference themes include but are not limited to the following:

1. Language and Cultural Identity in a Globalized World How languages shape and preserve cultural identities in an increasingly globalized society.

2. Endangered Languages and Revitalization Efforts Examining the preservation and revitalization of endangered languages and their impact on local communities.

3. Multilingualism and Social Integration The role of multilingualism in fostering inclusion and cohesion in diverse societies.

4. Digital Humanities, Digital Technology and Language Evolution How technology, from social media to AI, influences language evolution and local linguistic identities.

5. Language and Power: Colonialism, Politics, and Resistance Exploring the political dimensions of language, from colonial histories to modern-day language policies.

6. Linguistic Diversity and Education Systems The challenges and benefits of incorporating local languages into formal education.

7. Global English and Local Languages: Balancing Linguistic Power The dominance of English in global discourse versus efforts to maintain local languages and identities.

8. Language, Migration, and Diasporic Identities How migration shapes language use and the creation of hybrid linguistic identities in diasporic communities.

9 Indigenous Languages and Environmental Knowledge The link between indigenous languages and environmental stewardship, focusing on traditional knowledge encoded in local tongues.

10. The Role of Language in Shaping Nationalism and Regionalism Investigating how language contributes to the rise of nationalism or regionalism in different parts of the world.

11. The Global phenomenon of English as a Medium of Instruction The impact of the English Medium Instruction (EMI) at all levels of education (primary, secondary, tertiary) on local languages and identities.

  • Keynote Speakers:
  • Dr. Sarah Hopkyns, Lecturer in TESOL and International Education, University of St. Andrews, UK
  • Dr. Sara Hillman, Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics and English, Hamad Bin Khalifah University, Qatar

Instructions: Individual Submissions: Individual proposals should include an abstract in (250-word maximum), and the email, and the affiliation and short biography (max. 100 words) of presenter(s).Email submissions to both Dr. Marta Tryzna (Tryzna.M@gust.edu.kw)and Dr. Jennifer Lofkrantz (Lofkrantz.J@gust.edu.kw)Papers will need to be completed prior to the research conference for pre-circulation. Date to be announced after acceptance of proposals.

Deadline for submission of proposals: January 31, 2024

Notification of acceptance: February 15, 2024

Organizers: Dr. Marta Tryzna, Dr. Jennifer Lofkrantz, Global Studies Center