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Call for papers

Eleventh Creolistics Workshop                                                                                                       
University of Giessen, Germany

23 to 25 March 2017

Assessing old assumptions. New insights on the dynamics of contact languages

After two meetings at the University of Aarhus the Creolistics Workshop will again move to Giessen University, Germany for the March 2017 meeting. Giessen is easily accessed, being located just over one hour by train from Frankfurt/Main, one of Europe’s busiest airports.

The theme of the Eleventh Creolistics Workshop will be “Assessing old assumptions. New insights on the dynamics of contact languages”. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in testing given truths about contact languages by using data-driven approaches. The methods and aims of these studies are diverse and include synchronic and diachronic aspects, such as, for example, testing assumptions about

  • the structure of contact languages,
  • the use, spread and domains of contact languages,
  • the emergence and development of contact languages,
  • the sociohistorical realities in the areas where contact languages emerged,
  • earlier stages of individual contact languages,
  • grammaticalization paths of individual markers in contact languages, or
  • the individual language ecologies in the areas where contact languages emerged.

Papers are invited dealing with approaches to testing assumptions about contact languages. They should be firmly grounded on empirical data (synchronic or diachronic). As indicated by the title, contributions concerning other contact languages than pidgins and/or creoles are equally welcome. There will be a session specifically devoted to old texts and what insights they can shed on contact languages. Time allotted to papers is 20 minutes plus 10 minutes discussion time.

Deadline: 31 October 2016

Abstracts should be submitted via EasyAbs (http://linguistlist.org/easyabs/creolistics2017). They should be a maximum of 500 words, including title and references. All abstracts will be peer reviewed. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by 1 December 2016. Note that after that date, circulars (travel arrangements, accommodation, conference program, etc.) will only be sent out to those whose papers have been accepted. There will be no registration fees for the workshop.

For further information please contact

Magnus Huber / Viveka Velupillai
English linguistics and history of English
FB 05 Sprache, Literatur, Kultur
Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen
Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10 B
D-35394 Giessen

Tel. +49 (0)641 9930060
Fax +49 (0)641 9930069