Workshop Sign Language Discourse

Call for Proposals

The 33rd Annual Meeting of the German Linguistic Society (https://dgfs.de) will take place on February 23rd-25th, 2011, at the University of Göttingen, Germany. It will host a Sign Language Workshop which is intended to give an overview of research related to all aspects of signed discourse.

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)

Melanie Metzger (Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.)

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