20.1000, Confs: General Linguistics/Botswana

Sat Mar 21 15:05:23 UTC 2009

LINGUIST List: Vol-20-1000. Sat Mar 21 2009. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 20.1000, Confs: General Linguistics/Botswana

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1)
Date: 17-Mar-2009
From: Kemmonye Monaka < monaka at mopipi.ub.bw >
Subject: Mapping Africa in the English Speaking World

-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 10:59:21
From: Kemmonye Monaka [monaka at mopipi.ub.bw]
Subject: Mapping Africa in the English Speaking World

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Mapping Africa in the English Speaking World 

Date: 02-Jun-2009 - 04-Jun-2009 
Location: Gaborone, Botswana 
Contact: Kemmonye Monaka 
Contact Email: monaka at mopipi.ub.bw 

Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics 

Meeting Description: 

Department of English: 5th International Conference
Theme: Mapping Africa in the English Speaking World
University of Botswana
02nd - 04th June, 2009

Since 1998 the Department of English in the Faculty of Humanities at the
University of Botswana has hosted a biennial conference to discuss issues
concerning English language and literature in Africa. The 2009 conference,
Mapping Africa in the English Speaking World, will provide a platform to
engage with various issues relating to the representation of Africa, past
and present, in English. The department hopes that dialogue around such
issues will contribute to better understanding of the image(s) of Africa in
the English-speaking world, the relationships between Africa and English
and the extent to which English and other African related issues such as
various languages traditions (written and oral), cultures, etc
inter-relate; the construction of identities and development of
relationships in multi-lingual contexts; how culture and knowledge are
effectively communicated between communities; and so on. 

Conference Structure

Plenary Sessions:
Plenary sessions made of presentations lasting about one hour and followed
by thought provoking questions (and answers), lively debates, discussions,
general comments, etc, will be held during the conference. Plenary speakers
will be drawn from internationally renowned and leading experts on African
issues. 

Presentations streams:
Presentation sessions will be arranged according to the conference
themes/sub-themes and will last a maximum of 20 minutes. There will be
approximately 10 minutes discussion after the presentation. The conference
language is English. 

Presenters are responsible for making copies of their own handouts,
transparencies etc. Conference organizers should be notified of any 
requirements for (special) audio-visual equipment as early as possible. If 
there is any need of a sign language interpreter please notify conference 
organizers at least 4 weeks (28 calendar days) in advance.

Round Table:
The Conference Committee plans to schedule a Round Table discussion within
the Time Table on the sub-theme 'Representation of Botswana culture by
foreign vs. Batswana writers'. Although the Round Table will specifically
be on the representation of Botswana culture, debate will be welcome from
the representation of other African cultures. Panelist will be drawn from 
analytical critics and experts as well as authors of fiction on Africa, and
the Round Table is expected to rouse heated debates.  

Panel Discussion (new)
A panel has been organized on Contested Identities: Bessie Head and African
Writing. This panel hopes to broadly tackle issues of identity in Africa,
including those of the Khoesan. Although the main author of discussion will
be Bessie Head, identity issues will be expanded to other writers on Africa. A
lively exchange of ideas is anticipated.

Conference Dinner, Drama and Readings
There will be a Conference Dinner on the night of June 2nd, 2009. Drama,
Performances and Readings will be done on subsequent nights, 3rd - 4th.

Registration Fees 
Registration fees for the conference are as follows:

Students: BWP 200.00 (P200.00). Proof of student status will be required.
An ID will be most  appropriate.
Other participants: BWP 400.00 (P400.00).

Registration and payment of registration fees will be done on-site on
Monday, June 1st, 2009. The registration point will be at Foyer of the
University of Botswana Library, Block 224. Registration starts at 10:00 a.m. 

Funding
The Department of English at the University of Botswana does not have funds
to assist potential participants to attend the conference. In the event
that their abstracts are accepted for presentation at the conference,
participants are advised to seek financial assistance from their
institutions or other organizations to attend the conference. 

Cancellations
In the event that a participant is unable to attend the conference, s/he
should notify the conference organizers by e-mail at least 2 weeks (14
calendar days) before the start of the conference. E-mails on cancellations
should be sent to:
monaka at mopipi.ub.bw 

Accommodation Details  
Most hotels and lodges are located within a short walking or driving distance. 
Detailed information is available upon request. The booking of 
accommodation in hotels and lodges is the responsibility of the
participants.   

Booking of Graduate and Undergraduate halls of residences may be made
through the contact numbers shown up to May, 2009. Any booking after 
this time may be made through +267 3552245 or +267 3552977.

Food
The Conference will provide tea and scones/bread at tea breaks and lunch from 
02nd June, 2009 to the 04th June 2009. The Conference Dinner will also be 
provided on the night of 02nd June, 2009. Otherwise participants will need to 
make arrangement for their breakfast and dinner. 

The Exchange Rate
As of Tuesday 03rd February, 2009, 1:00 USD = 7.99930 BWP. Exchange rates be
estimated from XE.com at http://www.xe.com 

Visas
Please find out as soon as possible whether you need a visa to come to 
Botswana. Visas take a number of days to process and must therefore be
attended to well in time. Visa fees differ for different countries. Participants
must 
ensure that their passport are original and are valid for at least a period of 
six months. In case you need assistance from the conference organisers for 
preparations relating to your visas, please contact Mr Tiro Sebina at email: 
sebinat at mopipi.ub.bw or tel: 267 3555081. Only participants whose abstracts 
have been accepted for presentation at our conference will be assisted with 
visa issues if necessary. However, it is largely the responsibility of the 
participants to secure visas to come to Botswana for the conference.

Publication of proceedings
Some papers will be selected for publication consideration with a reputable 
publisher after the conference. These papers will undergo a rigorous review 
process. 

Botswana
Location and weather
The Republic of Botswana is situated in Southern Africa, and shares borders 
with South Africa in the south and southeast, Namibia in the west, Zambia in 
the north and Zimbabwe in the northeast. The Capital city of Botswana is 
Gaborone, situated almost in the border with South Africa. The climate in the 
country is generally semi-arid. The period, June 02nd - 04th, 2009, falls 
within the winter season, and days could be sunny and cool to warm, but in the 
evenings and at night temperatures can drop to below freezing point. So please 
bring warm clothes.

Travel/Flights( in)to Gaborone
Flights into Gaborone, Botswana, land at Sir Seretse Khama International 
Airport, which is approximately 10km north of the city and connects with 
Johannesburg and Cape Town (South Africa), Harare (Zimbabwe), and two towns 
within Botswana; Francistown and Maun.

Comments and Questions
Comments and questions may be sent via e-mail to monaka at mopipi.ub.bw 

Conference organising committee:
Dr. Elma Thekiso at  +267 355 5085; e-mail address:  thekisoe at mopipi.ub.bw 
Mr. Tiro Sebina  +267 355 5081; e-mail address: sebinat at mopipi.ub.bw 
Ms. Seatlholo Tumedi  +267 355 2667; e-mail address: tumedism at mopipi.ub.bw 
Dr. Sibonile Ellece  +267 355 4113; e-mail address: elleces at mopipi.ub.bw 
Mr. Fani K. Omoregie  +267 355 2669; e-mail address: omoregie at mopipi.ub.bw 
Dr. Alfred J. Matiki  +267 355 2978; e-mail address: matiki at mopipi.ub.bw 
Mr. Owen Seda  +267 355 2094, e-mail: owen.seda at mopipi.ub.bw
Dr. Kems C. Monaka  +267 355 5118; e-mail address: monaka at mopipi.ub.bw

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