Language and Identity Workshop IV (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 IV.  Language in Public Space: Identity and the Urban Environment

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

Time: Monday, 29 May 2023, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm (JST)

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

Keynote:  Dr. Peter BACKHAUS (Waseda University), " Identity and Hybridity in Japanese Writing Practices" , 29 May 2023, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (JST)

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

The use of language in public space is an important indicator of identity, which shows how languages are valued in a given community in both practical and symbolic manners. In this workshop, we will explore how identity is visually manifested in the physical and digital landscapes through the examination of the language of public signs, advertising billboards, street names, place names, and so on.

Topics that are particularly welcome:

• Linguistic landscape of multilingual cities
• Visual representation of language
• Use of scripts/signs and identity
• Linguistic representation of minorities/regional identities
• Toponymy

Important dates:

April 19 Call for papers opens

May 15  Call for papers closes

May 22 Notification of acceptance

May 29 Workshop

How to Submit: Please submit your abstract in PDF before 17:00 JST May 15 to tokyo.college.event@tc.u-tokyo.ac.jp with Language and Identity Workshop in the subject field.