GEOLINGUISTICS NEWS ITEM, No. 1
The 1st ASG/NSG International Webinar on Theory, Research, and Practice in Geolinguistics
December 18-19,
2020 Call for presentation proposals and papers
The American Society of Geolinguistics (ASG), Nepal Chapter is pleased to announce a call for presentation proposals and papers for an international webinar on Theory, Research, and Practice in Geolinguistics to be held on 18-19 December 2020.
The American Society of Geolinguistics, established in 1965 by Mario A. Pei of Columbia University, is a global platform for linguists, pedagogues, researchers, planners, policy makers and language teachers and learners. The organization, devoted to the pursuit of researching, disseminating and publishing of up-to-date knowledge on language contact and conflict, language planning and policy, multilingualism and polyglottery, language pedagogy and education, is focused on an objective and solution-oriented approach from a temporal and geographical perspective. More specifically, it concerns itself with linguistic geography, language planning, policy making and the politics of language education of both majority and minority languages in relation to specific geographical locations, with their impact on real-life situations being treated as the core area of geolinguistics studies. It also aims to focus on the study of the impact of language on aspects of culture, likewise, as it is limited by time and location and being solutions oriented by nature. The American Society of Geolinguistics has its head office in New York, with affiliates in Moscow, Tokyo,and Kathmandu.
Geolinguistics issues of languages can never be underrated in society. Even during the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, massive issues of language policy, power and agency have come to the fore in the public sphere. Historical tensions between the dominance and role of the majority vis-a-vis other languages spoken in each country have come to the fore. For instance, much of the information available on the pandemic and on public health response has been in either English and/or the national language of those countries so affected. Meanwhile, minority and indigenous languages have been ignored, though the availability of accurate information is crucial to all language speakers, health professionals and decision-makers throughout the globe. Local languages have still continued to lose ground due to the absence of effective language policies. Unless governments everywhere develop holistic and coherent language education policies and find a way for minority languages to co-exist with majority languages, this situation will continue. Taking into account these realities on the ground, The American Society of Geolinguistics, Nepal Chapter is going to organize a two day international webinar on Theory, Research, and Practice in Geolinguistics focusing on novice researchers by putting an emphasis on theoretical and methodological concepts, models, and aspects of Geolinguistics around the globe. The webinar seeks to craft a viable format for further research from a Geolinguistics perspective that supports the establishment of Geolinguistics as a genre of research at the university level. A proposal for a paper should cover one of the following themes:
1. Theoretical concepts and models of Geolinguistics
2. Academic literature and literature reviews in the field of Geolinguistics
3. Aspects and scope of Geolinguistics
4. The methodology of data collection and analysis in Geolinguistics
5. Recent research and practice in Geolinguistics
6. Geolinguistics perspectives of language planning and policies
7. Geolinguistics perspectives of language heritage
8. Others
Online paper proposals should be submitted by December5, 2020..
The proposal should include:
1) the presentation title and summary (up to 250 words) in English
2) the author’s name, affiliation, and email address
Submission form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZTfdFxaByiXL7FqhYTt0WjBbTsUggbF1RqdrekHEESg/edit
Paper presentation time will be 20 minutes which will be followed by a 10 minute discussion period. The program time schedule will be sent later.
The screening committee will inform applicants whether their initial submissions have been accepted or rejected.
Organizer:
The Nepalese Society of Geolinguistics, Kathmandu, Nepal
Supported by:
Amici Linguarum, Moscow
The American Society of Geolinguistics, New York City
The American Society of Geolinguistics, Kathmandu
The American Society of Geolinguistics, Tokyo
Contact:
Mr. Aita Bishowkarma: abgorkhalig@gmail.com
Mr. Alfosno Guerio: paxromana47@gmail.com
Dr. Wayne Finke: Wayne.Finke@baruch.cuny.edu
Dr. Grigory Kazakov: kazac@rambler.ru
Dr. Hikaru Kitabayashi: hkitabayashi@gmail.com
Dr. Ravi Maharjan: ravimaharjan3201@gmail.com