The organizers of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the German Linguistic Society (https://dgfs.de) want to invite all scholars interested in signed discourse to present their ideas and findings during the workshop which will take place on February 23rd-25th, 2011, at the University of Göttingen, Germany.
Workshop organizers: Martje Hansen, Jens Hessmann (University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal); Christian Rathmann (University of Hamburg)
 
Invited speakers:
Gary Morgan (DCAL research centre, City University London)
Brenda Nikodemus (San Diego State University, California)

The workshop will cover the following areas of research:
•   Theory and methodology of research on sign language discourse, e.g.
–      the use of technical terms like ‘genre’, ‘text type’, ‘register’, ‘style’ in relation to signed  discourse

–   possible criteria for the classification of different sign language text types or genres

–   issues related to the data collection, annotation and analysis of signed texts and conversations

•   Analysis of specific text types and textual features, e.g.:
 –   informal or unplanned text types like conversations and spontaneous narration
 –   formal or planned texts like lectures, reports, description, jokes or poetry
–      discourse markers, connectives, turn-taking mechanisms, textual structures, use of signing space   

•   Applied dimensions of sign language discourse, e.g. in

–   sign language interpreting

 –   sign language acquisition

–   sign language teaching

 –   bilingual education

•   Signed texts and conversations in relation to Deaf Studies, e.g.

–   signed languages between orality and literacy
–     development and diversification of signed text genres (e.g. poetry)
 –     function and significance of specific text types in Deaf communities

Abstract submissions
Abstracts are invited for 30-minute talks (20 minute presentations plus 10 minutes for discussion). Abstracts should be anonymous and confined to one page (including examples and references) with 1-inch margins and 12-point font.
Please send your abstract to Martje Hansen: martje.hansen@hs-magdeburg.de

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: September 15, 2010
Notification of Acceptance: October 31, 2010
Final abstracts for conference proceedings: December 1, 2010
Workshop: February 23-25, 2011