CFP EMCL4: Integration - Methods and Perspectives

[Monica Gonzalez-Marquez]

EMCL 4: Integration - Methods and Perspectives
July 7 – 12, 2008


University of Southern Denmark
Odense, Denmark
http://www.lcm.sdu.dk/index.php?id=1629
EMCL4.2008 at gmail.com



To precede Language, Culture and Mind 3
http://www.lcm.sdu.dk



***********Application deadline: April 30, 2008***********



The Empirical Methods in Cognitive Linguistics (EMCL) Workshops have emerged
out of the desire of many language researchers to incorporate empirical
methods into their investigative repertoire. While theoretical work in
cognitive linguistics has yielded significant insights, they still await
empirical validation. To that end, we seek to further develop an empirically
valid account of the connection between language and cognition through the
continuous merging of theoretical and empirical research.

Our theme for this, the fourth EMCL, is integration of methodologies and
perspectives. Language is a complex phenomenon, "too human to be confined to
a single discipline" (Hunt & Agnoli, 1991) or to be understood using a
single methodology.  Although using one perspective or method can be quite
informative, pursuit of corroborating evidence via multiple means is
substantially more illuminating. Our goal with this workshop is to provide a
setting where integration is considered from the onset of a research
project.  The basic unit of the workshop will therefore be hands-on sessions
led by pairs of researchers who will work together to provide complementary
perspectives on a problem's investigation. In this setting, invited students
will learn how to apply different approaches to a given question, as well as
how to carry out a research project from conception to implementation.


Intended Audience:

The interdisciplinary training required to advance Empirical Cognitive
Linguistics remains unfortunately scarce at most universities. This makes
the transition from one way of looking at language to another often
overwhelming and intimidating. Most beginners never get started because they
don't know who to ask for help, how to begin, what questions to ask, what to
read. As such, the focus of the EMCL Workshops is to unite gifted cognitive
linguists lacking empirical training, with experienced researchers who will
guide them in the development and implementation of a research project. The
workshop will also serve to introduce new researchers to the community of
active empiricists, to whom they will be able to look to for guidance long
after the workshop is over.

This workshop is aimed specifically at scholars with sound theoretical
knowledge in their field though lacking in empirical training, including
experimental research. Participants are not expected to have any background
at all in empirical work. Candidates should at least have completed initial
university training, a B.A. in the US, or be working on a Masters degree if
training in Europe, in theoretical linguistics or a similar field, and be
familiar with cognitive linguistics (this familiarity need not have occurred
in a formal university setting). Graduate students, i.e. post-grads,
pre-doctoral, etc., as well as post-doctoral researchers and junior faculty,
are invited to apply. The only real prerequisite is a background in
cognitive linguistics or embodiment, and a desire to gain empirical research
experience.

Format:

A select group of students (max. 8 per group) will be invited to
participate. Each group will work with two researchers who will guide the
group in selecting an idea for the group to investigate, structuring and
organizing a research project, and carrying it out. The session will end
with the presentation of findings and a general discussion.

Topics to be covered include,
- Deciding on a research topic
- Transforming the research topic into a research question
- Developing experimental hypotheses and designing an experiment
- Data collection
- Statistical analysis and interpretation
- Presentation of findings to an audience


Cost: 125 Euros, payable upon arrival

** Scholarships will be available for students traveling from Eastern Europe
and 3rd world countries.

** Please note: Unlike at previous EMCL workshops, attendance to this
session will be strictly limited to the invited participants. No exceptions
will be made so as to preserve pedagogical integrity.


Workshop Topics and Faculty

1. Gesture and Simulation Semantics

    Alan Cienki
    http://www.let.vu.nl/staf/a.cienki/index_en.htm

    Ben Bergen
    http://www2.hawaii.edu/~bergen/


2. Lexical Semantics and Multidimensional Scaling

    Steven Clancy
    http://home.uchicago.edu/~sclancy/

    Michele Feist
    http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~mif8232/


3. Linguistic Relativity and Meaning

    John Lucy
    http://home.uchicago.edu/~johnlucy/

    Gabriella Vigliocco
    http://www.psychol.ucl.ac.uk/language/index.html


4. Music and Language

    Erin Hannon
    http://psychology.unlv.edu/html/hannon.html

    TBA

5. Bilingualism

    Viorica Marian
    http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/faculty/?PID=VioricaMarian

    Kathryn Kohnert
    http://www.slhs.umn.edu/people/facExp.php?UID=kohne005


Accommodation: TBA


Application:

To apply, please send the following by April 30, 2008. All materials must be
submitted electronically to EMCL4.2008 at gmail.com .

PLEASE WRITE 'APPLICATION' IN THE SUBJECT LINE.

1. A maximum of two (2) pages, (1000 words), describing,
    - your background,
    - your reasons for wanting to participate,
    - the research group you would like to work in and why.  Please include
in this section a
       brief description of your research interests.

2. A copy of your curriculum vitae.

Accepted applicants will be notified on or before June 1, 2008.

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EMCL 4 Organizing Committee:

Monica Gonzalez-Marquez, Chair, Cornell (EMCL4.2008 at gmail.com)
Raymond Becker, University of California, Merced
Michele Feist, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Todd Oakley, Case Western Reserve University
Anders R. Hougaard, University of Southern Denmark
Gitte R. Hougaard, University of Southern Denmark