Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary is happy to host a conference on

Changing Discourses in collaboration with the Discourse-Pragmatic Variation & Change network

(DiPVaC, http://www.dipvac.org/) and DiscourseNet (https://discourseanalysis.net/).

Changing discourses, in very broad terms, refer to the shifts and transformations that occur in the ways people talk about and understand particular topics over time. From a critical perspective, changing discourses are not simply a reflection of social, cultural, or technological changes, but are rather a site of power struggles and contestation. The fact that discourses change gradually as well as from one era to another can be due to a variety of factors, including social and political developments, changes in technology, and shifts in cultural norms. Furthermore, linguistic variation can occur within a discourse, where different dialects or languages are used to convey meaning. Social variation can also play a role in discourse, where language use may differ depending on factors such as social class, ethnicity, or gender. Finally, discourse variation can occur within a single speech community, where language use, such as the use of a discourse-pragmatic marker like so, well, you know, etc. may differ based on the context, topic, or audience. Together, these variations in language use reflect the complex and dynamic nature of language, shaped by a multitude of factors that influence how people communicate with one another.

The aim of the conference on changing discourses and discourse-pragmatic variation is to explore the ways in which language use shifts and evolves over time, as well as the factors that influence these changes. Participants at the conference are welcome to submit papers taking a descriptive approach and examine how changes in the political climate, society and technology impact language use, and how language use in turn shapes social and cultural practices. The conference will also explore how discourse-pragmatic variation manifests in different contexts, such as in professional settings, in interpersonal relationships, and in public discourse. Overall, the conference will provide a forum for scholars, researchers, and practitioners to engage in lively discussion and debate about the complexities of language use and its relationship to social and cultural change.

A particular aspect that will be welcome at this conference will be that of a critical analysis, which examines the ways in which language use reflects and reinforces power relations in society. For example, certain linguistic forms or discursive strategies may be used by dominant groups to maintain their power and privilege, while marginalized groups may use language to resist and challenge these power structures. Critical analysis examines how changes in discourses can either contribute to or undermine social justice and equality, and it might also explore how language use varies across different gender, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups, and the ways in which these variations reflect broader societal inequalities.

We invite DiPVaC submissions that encompass a broad range of subjects, including but not limited to:

• sociolinguistic patterns of discourse-pragmatic variation and change;
• discourse-pragmatic variation and change in contexts of language contact;
• quantitative studies addressing the grammaticalization of discourse-pragmatic features;
• contrastive/cross-linguistic studies of discourse-pragmatic variation and change;
• methods in the quantitative analysis of discourse-pragmatic features;
• social and geographical diffusion patterns of innovative discourse features;
• discourse-pragmatic features in the construction and negotiation of social identities;
• acquisition of discourse-pragmatic variation by children, L2 learners and bilingual speakers;
• discourse-pragmatic variation and change across the lifespan;
• socio-perceptual studies of discourse-pragmatic variation;
• discourse-pragmatic variation across interactional, situational and technological settings;
• implications and applications of discourse-pragmatic variation and change within and beyond linguistic theory.

Suggested topics for DiscourseNet panels:

• political discourse and power dynamics: analyzing how discourse-pragmatic features are used in political rhetoric to construct and manipulate power dynamics, influence public opinion, and maintain political hegemony;
• AI-mediated discourse and human interaction: investigating how the integration of artificial intelligence, chatbots, virtual assistants, and natural language processing technologies affects discourse patterns, pragmatics, and social interactions in various domains such as customer service, education, healthcare, and daily communication. This topic would explore the implications of AI-driven communication on human language use, social dynamics, and identity construction in an increasingly AI-enhanced world;
• media discourse and framing: examining the role of discourse-pragmatic variation and change in shaping public perception through media, including the framing of news stories, agenda- setting, and the use of propaganda techniques;
• intersectionality and discourse analysis: investigating how discourse-pragmatic features intersect with various social categories such as race, gender, sexuality, and class to construct complex identities and power relations;
• digital communication and online communities;
• language ideology and discourse;
• legal discourse and social (in)justice;
• healthcare communication;
• language policy and planning;
• multimodal discourse analysis;
• corporate and organizational discourse.

Abstract submission and panel proposals

Please submit panel proposals and abstracts at https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=dndipvac2024

Please ensure that you include either "DiPVaC" or "DiscourseNet" as the first key word. Individual papers as well as panel proposals are welcome in the case of DiPVaC submissions, and panel proposals are welcome in the case of DiscourseNet submissions. For panel proposals, kindly include details about all presenters and co-authors, and designate the panel proposer as the first author. If you are not a member of either DiPVaC or DiscourseNet, please visit their respective websites to determine the most appropriate category for your paper or panel proposal.

Confirmed plenary speakers are Chloé Diskin-Holdaway and Miklós Kontra

Conference venue: Károli Gáspár University, Budapest

Conference dates: 12-14th June, 2024

Conference website: dndipvac2024.kre.hu

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