SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Welcome & Registration: Teaching and Learning (Im)politeness

The next international (Im)Politeness conference, under the aegis of the Linguistic Politeness Research Group (LPRG), is to be held at SOAS, University of London, from 8 to 11 July 2013. Its theme is Teaching and Learning (Im)Politeness.

Information for Participants

• Important Dates
• Abstract Submission
• Invited Speakers
• Scientific Committee
• Student Sponsorship
• Budget Accommodation
• Registration

Call for Papers

The staggering explosion of research on (im)politeness we have witnessed in recent decades has arguably paid relatively little attention (especially at the theoretical level) to one aspect which is crucial to the description of any cultural phenomenon. This is the transmission of and acculturation to (im)polite norms and associated linguistic systems (e.g. honorifics), or, in very broad terms, the ‘teaching’ and ‘learning’ of (im)politeness.

We therefore call for papers that focus on the following areas of inquiry:

• How do (im)politeness systems and norms get transmitted across time, individuals and groups? What kinds of socialization practices are observed that enable such transmission? What kinds of private or public indoctrination practices that attempt to regulate such transmission can be observed?
• What kinds of acculturation processes do children or other novices such as adult foreign language learners need to undergo in order to engage competently with a community’s normative parameters?
• How do language teachers or pedagogical materials conceptualize (im)politeness when aiming to provide efficient (but unavoidably condensed) descriptions or explanations to learners? What are the political implications of such conceptualizations? How do instructors or instructional materials position themselves vis-à-vis standard and non-standard varieties and normativity?
• How do theoretical and folk conceptualizations of (im)politeness account for native and non-native competence, as well as performance? How do increased mobility, multilingualism and multiculturalism impact on such accounts?
• What systemic and cultural aspects of (im)politeness are particularly challenging to adult foreign language learners and how does this challenge develop longitudinally in relation to overall proficiency?
• How do educational policies (for example as evidenced by attempts at formulating proficiency measures such as the Common European Framework or the guidelines of the American Council for TFL) accommodate (im)politeness in their descriptions of competencies?

However, in keeping with previous LPRG conferences, papers on any other aspect(s) of (im)politeness will also be considered.

Registration

All participants must register in advance. Registration closes at 10am on Thursday, 4 July 2013.

Fee includes access to all panels, refreshments and light lunch. Places in the panel sessions will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

To register click on the applicable early bird rate (below).

Fees

* Students must show a valid student ID card on the day.

Cancellation and refund policy

Cancellations must be reported in writing to the Conference Manager. Cancellations must be received by Friday, 14 June 2013 in which case registration fees will be refunded, less a £10 processing fee.  No refund will be given to cancellations received after 14 June 2013.

Please direct any questions about registration, payments or refunds to the Conference Manager, Jane Savory, Centres & Programmes Office, SOAS.