Call for papers

The notion of language contact captures multi-faceted phenomena and processes of language use that emerge from the interaction of speakers and their diverse linguistic repertoires. Dependent on socio-cultural conditions as well as the type and medium of interaction, manifestations of language contact have been a constant source of linguistic investigations. In current times of increased physical and virtual mobility and of dynamically shifting boundaries and identities, the notion of language contact is faced with concepts such as fluidity, dynamic systems, transculturality, multilingualism and the break-up of the one nation – one language ideology. This raises the question of how language contact as a theoretical notion and as a field of inquiry is able to capture these current developments.

We invite proposals for presentations (20-minutes + 10 minutes discussion) on current scenarios and aspects of language contact world-wide.

A limited amount of thematic sessions can also be accommodated in the programme. Applications for prospective theme sessions should consist of a general description (500 words max., excluding references) and provide a list of planned paper titles and presenters. Theme sessions should consist of a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 papers. The final date for the submission of theme session proposals is December 5, 2019.

Papers addressing one of the following topics and approaches are particularly welcome:

• globalization as a catalyst of language contact

• (socio-)cognitive approaches to language contact

• the dynamics of language contact: fluidity, hybridity, creativity, translingualism, codeswitching/codemixing

• processes and linguistic manifestations of language contact

• language contact in a multilingual world