<html>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>Apologies for multiple
postings<br>
<br>
<b>Conference announcement <br>
<br>
</b>On October 24-25, the research unit <i>Quantitative lexicology and
variational linguistics </i>of the Department of Linguistics of the
University of Leuven hosts the symposium <br>
<br>
MEASURING LEXICAL VARIATION AND CHANGE<br>
A Symposium on Quantitative Sociolexicology<br>
<br>
Made possible by the Fund for Scientific Research - Flanders<br>
<br>
<b>Aim<br>
<br>
</b>This workshop brings together researchers in the field of variational
lexicology and diachronic vocabulary studies who use quantitative
methods. Although such methods have been used less intensively in the
study of lexical variation and change than they have been employed in the
field of phonetics, morphology, or other linguistic variables, there is a
growing body of quantitative research on the distribution of words over
language varieties and the diffusion of lexical changes over time. The
symposium intends to create a forum for the confrontation and the
comparison of the different approaches involved. <br>
<br>
<b>Structure & schedule<br>
<br>
</b>The workshop consists of 5 plenary sessions (1 hour) and 12 regular
sessions (35’).<br>
<br>
Invited speakers are:<br>
<br>
Nigel Armstrong (University of Leeds)<br>
Peter Auer (University of Freiburg)<br>
Harald Baayen (Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics Nijmegen &
University of Nijmegen)<br>
John Nerbonne (University of Groningen)<br>
Terttu Nevalainen (University of Helsinki)<br>
<br>
In order to ensure a highly focused event with maximal interaction
between the participants, the number of regular presentations is limited
to 12, and there are no parallell sessions. The full programme, as well
as abstracts of all the lectures can be found on the conference
website<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3 color="#0000FF"><u><a href="http://wwwling.arts.kuleuven.ac.be/sociolex" eudora="autourl">http://wwwling.arts.kuleuven.ac.be/sociolex<br>
<br>
</a></u></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><b>Conference
venue<br>
<br>
</b>The symposium will take place in the Groot Begijnhof "Grand
Beguinage", Leuven's magnificent Unesco heritage. The Begijnhof,
which was founded in the 13th century outside the town walls, is a
microcosmos of picturesque 16th-17th C houses, little cobbled alleys,
narrow bridges, and an early Gothic church. It is now a residence for
University staff and Foreign guests. The lectures are organised in the
neighboring Irish College (1607), where a buffet lunch will also be
served. Dinner will be served in the magnificent 16th C infirmary of the
Faculty Club. <br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Accommodation & fees<br>
<br>
</b>For participants who present a paper, participation in the symposium,
as well as lunch and dinner on Thursday and Friday are free of charge.
Accommodation will be arranged for active participants in the
<i>Begijnhof Congress Hotel</i>
(</font><a href="http://www.begijnhofcongreshotel.be/" eudora="autourl"><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3 color="#0000FF"><u>www.begijnhofcongreshotel.be</a></u></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>) (to be paid for by the participants themselves).<br>
<br>
If you are interested in attending the symposium as a passive participant, please send an e-mail to Dirk Geeraerts, Stefan Grondelaers & Dirk Speelman (by October 16 at the latest) at the following address:<br>
<br>
sociolex@listserv.cc.kuleuven.ac.be<br>
<br>
Additional information on the conference organisers & the conference schedule, the conference venue (how to get there) & registration, can be found on the conference website<br>
<br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3 color="#0000FF"><u><a href="http://wwwling.arts.kuleuven.ac.be/sociolex" eudora="autourl">http://wwwling.arts.kuleuven.ac.be/sociolex<br>
<br>
<br>
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