LINGUIST List 14.2747

Fri Oct 10 2003

Calls: Historical Ling/Austria; Applied Ling/NL

Editor for this issue: Steve Moran <stevelinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. eitler, Computer Simulation in English Historical Linguistics Workshop
2. w.m.lowie, The socio-political setting of English language teaching

Computer Simulation in English Historical Linguistics Workshop 
Short Title: COMPUSIM

Date: 23-Aug-2004 - 28-Aug-2004
Location: Vienna, Austria
Contact: Tam�s Eitler
Contact Email: eitlerfreemail.hu 

Linguistic Sub-field: Historical Linguistics, Computational
Linguistics

Subject Language: English

Call Deadline: 15-Jan-2004

Meeting Description:

The Computer Simulation in English Historical Linguistics Workshop
deals with the different ways how computer simulation can be used (1)
to explain changes in the history of English; (2) to test and verify
existing explanations of the changes. The workshop will be organised
in connection with the 13th International Conference on English
Historical Linguistics at the University of Vienna 23-28 August,
2004. 

CALL FOR PAPERS

COMPUTER SIMULATION IN ENGLISH HISTORICAL LINGUISTICS (COMPUSIM) 

The Computer Simulation in English Historical Linguistics Workshop
(COMPUSIM) will be organised in connection with the 13th International
Conference on English Historical Linguistics, taking place at the
University of Vienna 23-28 August, 2004.

Computerised corpora and correlational historical sociolinguistics,
relying on computer-assisted statistics, have ushered in a new age for
English historical linguistics. At the same time, there has been but
sparse information around on another computer-assisted method,
computer simulation, which can also open up new vistas and can serve
as an alternative for statistical modelling, especially when some data
are lacking. As a powerful research tool, computer simulation can be
used for explanation and prediction alike.

Articles reporting on research using computer simulation to tackle
problems in the history of English and in the general theory of change
have been sporadically published and not given too much
attention. Some of these pioneering studies address a wide range of
issues in the history of English including word order changes, the
emergence and development of English-based creoles, whereas some deal
with more general issues like the trajectory of linguistic
replacement. After these initial achievements there seems to be a
growing need to summarise and propagate what we know in terms of the
applicability of simulation theory and methodology in general, and in
terms of the results of simulation runs related to the history of
English in particular. Furthermore, the COMPUSIM workshop would be a
perfect opportunity to review, discuss and elaborate on some
prospective research issues which would ideally be channelled into
research projects involving international cooperation.

The COMPUSIM workshop invites papers dealing with any aspect of the
application of computer simulation to any development in the history
of English. Papers on general simulation theory, simulation
methodology, simulation typology, if offering practical solutions, are
also welcome. The workshop presentations take 30 minutes (20 minutes
for the paper and 10 minutes for the discussion). Please send your
300-word abstract (in Word document format) for review and selection
to the address below. The deadline is 15 January, 2004. Notifications
of acceptance will be mailed in the course of February, 2004. Thank
you for your contributions in advance.

Further details on the 13th ICEHL can be found at:
http://www.univie.ac.at/Anglistik/icehl13/

Organiser: 

Tam�s Eitler, PhD student 
Department of English Linguistics, ELTE University, Budapest

Contact address: 

Eitler Tam�s
ELTE-BTK Angol Nyelv�szeti Tansz�k
H-1146 Budapest
Ajt�si D�rer sor 19-21.
Hungary

E-mail: eitlerfreemail.hu

The socio-political setting of English language teaching 
Date: 12-Nov-2003 - 14-Nov-2003
Location: Groningen, Netherlands
Contact: Kees de Bot
Contact Email: c.l.j.de.botlet.rug.nl 

Linguistic Sub-field: Applied Linguistics 

Subject Language: English

Meeting Description:

The central question to be addressed at this small-scale conference is
why the teaching of English as a Second Language is so effective in
some countries and less so in other ones. What are the success factors
and which factors may thwart an effective learning process? During the
conference which has a maximum of 40 participants different aspects of
this issue will be discussed by experts from different
perspectives. The program of this two day meeting includes the
following themes and speakers: - Dr. Margie Berns, Perdue University:
Setting the field: what makes ELT effective in some contexts and
ineffective in other contexts - Dr. P. Edelenbos, University of
Groningen: Is an earlier start for ELT better than a late start? -
Dr. Janina Brutt-Griffler, University of Alabama: Theorizing World
Englishes - Dr. Koffi Edoh World Bank, Washington: Teaching English in
Africa - Dr. Elana Shohamy, University of Tel-Aviv: The impact of
testing on the effectiveness of ELT - Dr. Sake Jager, University of
Groningen: Can ICT make the difference? - Mrs. Anne
Maljers/Mrs. Katinka van Vuuren, Europees Platform: A quality control
system for Bilingual schools in the Netherlands - Dr. Arthur van
Essen, University of Groningen: ELT: learning from the past The
intention is to have intensive discussions between participants,
therefore the scale of the meeting will be limited.

There is still space for some 15 additional participants. The costs
are 75 which includes lunches and informal diner on Thursday.