This conference hopes to attract specialists from all of the above areas and beyond in an attempt to generate a truly interdisciplinary debate about linguistic behaviour in the Early Modern period. Proposals are invited for 15-20 minute papers on any language-related topic dealing with the period 1400 to 1800. Thematic panel proposals are also welcome (2-hour sessions involving 3-4 speakers). Subjects may include:
• Multi- or translingual practices in particular parts of the world
• Translational activities, including interpreting, cultural translation, self-translation, intersemiotic translation and paratranslational processes
• Lingua francas in particular regions and domains
• The historical development of national languages and subnational varieties
• Language contact and its (cultural, political, ideological, linguistic) consequences
• The linguistic practices of specific social groups (e.g. traders, missionaries, scientists, women)
• Hybridity and code-switching in public and private spaces
• Literary heteroglossia and macaronics
• Processes of cultural transmission (science, philosophy, religion, art, culture of everyday life etc)
• The linguistic effects of conquest, settlement, diaspora and migration
• Language and education
• The effects of technology
• The economy of linguistic exchange
• Language ecologies
• Language and empire
The main language of the conference will be English, though papers may be presented in Portuguese, Spanish or French, if the accompanying slides and abstract are in English.
Keynote speakers
Peter Burke (Cambridge University)
Hugo Cardoso (University of Lisbon)
Antje Flüchter (University of Bielefeld
Ferial Ghazoul (University of Cairo)
Theo Hermans (University College, London)
Joan-Pau Rubiés (Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona)
An abstract of up to 250 words (for individual papers) or 1000 words (for panels) should be submitted to host.of.tongues@fcsh.unl.pt accompanied by a brief biosketch (up to 50 words) by 22nd July. You will be notified 31st July of your paper’s acceptance.
