LINGUIST List 11.1474

Wed Jul 5 2000

Calls: PLUM Proceedings, Language & the Media

Editor for this issue: Jody Huellmantel <jodylinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Katrin Hiietam, PLUM Proceedings-Papers in Linguistics of the University of Manchester
2. Diana Lewis, Language, the Media and International Communication

Dear Postgraduates

After the 9th Postgraduate Linguistics Conference at the university of
Manchester , March 25, 2000, we intend to publish the papers presented
this year as a volume of the PLUM (Papers in Linguistics of the
University of Manchester) Proceedings. This crucially depends on
whether there are enough people interested in publishing their paper
and/or in buying a copy of the PLUM Proceedings, so in order for us to
be able to go ahead with it, we need to know fairly soon if you are
interested. The price of a copy will be around �6 (including p&p) -
exact details to follow in due time... If you are interested (or if
you have any questions regarding the PLUM proceedings), please contact
the organisers as soon as possible, latest July, . Also, if you have
already ordered the Proceedings, please reconfirm your interest.

Finally, for those of you who presented a paper: please indicate
clearly whether you would like to see your paper published and/or
receive a copy of the Proceedings. We'll send you information as to
format etc. as soon as we have an idea of whether there's enough
interest.


Hope to hear from you soon!

Best wishes,

Christa Schubert (c.r.schubertstud.man.ac.uk)
and Katrin Hiietam (katrin.hiietamstud.man.ac.uk)

On behalf of the Organising Committee.

Conference announcement and call for papers

LANGUAGE, THE MEDIA AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION
29 March - 1 April 2001, St Catherine's College, Oxford
Sponsored by the Faculty of English, University of Oxford.

The language of the media has increasingly become a focus of attention in
recent years. This conference plans to explore two aspects of the topic.

1. The use of language by the media, and its possible effect on language
as a whole. The media -- and politicians -- are skilled at handing over
information in a quick, easily absorbable format. But to what extent do
they oversimplify or even falsify their message by inventing false
dichotomies and using misleading metaphors? Is their communication a
skill, or is it dishonesty? And what effect is this having on the language
as a whole? Do sound-bites, buzz-words, pithy phrases leave a permanent
linguistic legacy? Has elegant, literary language passed out of ordinary
usage?

2. Globalization. The use of relatively few languages, especially English,
in the world-wide media and the Internet, is a factor which may be
hastening the death of numerous languages. Is this a disaster, or
inevitable progress? English is spreading, but is it also disintegrating,
splitting into numerous incomprehensible dialects? And how is the Internet
affecting English as a whole? Is it holding it together, or pulling it
apart and destroying it with its emphasis on informal, fast communication?

This conference will explore these and similar matters. It will attempt to
bridge the gap between theoreticians and practitioners by inviting both
types of people to discuss these issues.

INVITED SPEAKERS include:

Allan Bell (Aukland)
Douglas Biber (Northern Arizona University)
Caroline van den Brul (BBC)
Ian Hislop (Private Eye)
Robin Lakoff (University of California at Berkeley)
Raymond Snoddy (The Times)

CALL FOR PAPERS

Presented papers and posters are invited on the topics described above.
Presented papers will be in twenty-minute slots. Posters will be on
display for the duration of the conference.

Types of paper:	20-minute papers; posters

Language of the conference: English

Format of abstract: Abstracts of up to 350 words excluding references
should be sent either by email as plain text or on paper by regular post.
They should consist of: title of proposed paper, name of author(s),
contact email address, contact postal address, abstract, relevant
references. Only one abstract per author(s) will be considered.

Deadline for receipt of proposals: 1st September 2000

Addresses for submission of proposals:
by email: languageell.ox.ac.uk
by post: Prof. J. Aitchison, Worcester College, Oxford OX1 2HB, UK.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Conference web site: http://www.english.ox.ac.uk/language

Addresses for enquiries:
Enquiries about the conference should be addressed by email to:
enquiries.oxconfpop3.hiway.co.uk
or by post to
Oxford Conference Management, 10b Littlegate St., Oxford OX1 1QT, UK.

PROGRAMME COMMITTEE

Jean Aitchison, Faculty of English, University of Oxford
Allan Bell, Auckland
Deborah Cameron, University of London
Jenny Cheshire, University of London
Diana Lewis, Faculty of English, University of Oxford
Gillian Reynolds, The Daily Telegraph

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Jean Aitchison, Faculty of English, University of Oxford
Paul Burns, Faculty of English, University of Oxford
Kate Flint, Faculty of English, University of Oxford
Priscilla Frost, Oxford Conference Management, Oxford
Diana Lewis, Faculty of English, University of Oxford
Lynda Mugglestone, Faculty of English, University of Oxford
Karen Wikander, Faculty of English, University of Oxford