Language and Identity Workshop Series Call for Papers

Workshop Series: Language and Identity

The nature of interaction between language and identity is a central topic in today’s academic discourse in numerous fields, including linguistics, psychology, education, media, and political science. The complexity and urgency of the topic has resulted in a number of approaches and methodologies aimed at the detection and investigation of features of identity, ranging from approaches informed by sociolinguistics and anthropology to those rooted in developmental and social psychology. Today, while simultaneously exploring the particularities of mechanisms of identity expression in and through language, linguistics identity research also informs approaches to multicultural education, language policy, and language in the workplace. 

In this workshop series, we focus on building common ground between various approaches to identity and language, forming a cross-disciplinary view on such fundamental issues as levels of identity (personal, relational, or collective), identity stability and fluidity, the broader nature of identity (discovered or constructed), and identity and language in the context of digitization and globalization. These workshops aim to present a diachronic, multidisciplinary view on approaches to language and identity in a variety of linguistic contexts and traditions. We also welcome researchers investigating the interaction between language and identity from the perspectives of media, political science, psychology, healthcare, and history. 

The workshop series opens with an event aimed at discussing the fundamentals of language and identity from a theoretical perspective. They will be followed by workshops focusing on the interaction between language and identity in media and communication, education policy, and linguistic landscape.

Each workshop will open with a keynote lecture followed by a discussion.  Each workshop aims to discuss several short papers on the topic.

Language and Identity Workshop I: Theory and Methods of Linguistic Identity

Place: Tokyo College, the University of Tokyo (online)

Time: February 2, 2023 17:30-19:30 JST

Language: English is the main language of the workshop (Japanese translation is provided for the keynote)

Keynote: Professor Li Wei (University College London), Transpositioning: a New Take on Translanguaging and Identities

Keynote abstract: 

This talk extends the concept of translanguaging by looking at transitional mutilinguals’ journey of Transpositioning – a process where people break from their pre-set or prescribed roles and switch perspectives with others, through communicative practices such as translanguaging and transmodalities, by releasing one’s self from conventions and fostering a greater sense of possibility, freeing ourselves from habitual thinking, and building empathy for others involved in the process. Transpositioning highlights the multiple and interwoven layers of emplacements and positionings that are entailed in communications which cross and transcend the boundaries that have historically shaped our thinking about the world and its inhabitants. Transpositioning requires border thinking, i.e. thinking from the outside, using alternative epistemological traditions and alternative languages of expression. Methodological implications of taking a transpositioning perspective on doing identity in a diverse and ever-changing world will be discussed. 

Presentation&Abstract: for a short 15 min presentation, please submit 250-words abstracts in English (excluding references)

In this workshop, we are aiming to present up-to-date approaches to linguistic identity and multilingualism. Focusing on linguistic identity as emerged through various forms of natural speech, we will discuss how transnationalism, migration, pandemic, and digital communication affect linguistic identities.

Topics that are particularly welcome:

• Individual and collective identities in local and transnational context
• Linguistic Identity in contemporary society
• Translanguaging
• Research methods in the field of linguistic identity

Important dates:

November 21 Call for papers open

December 21 Call for papers closed

January 9 Notification of acceptance

February 2 Workshop

How to Submit: Please submit your abstract in PDF before 17:00 JST December 21 to  tokyo.college.event@tc.u-tokyo.ac.jp with Language and Identity Workshop in the subject field