[Cadaad] Call for Papers: The Language of Artificial Intelligence - Perspectives from Critical Discourse Analysis

[Voice, Matthew]

Dear colleagues,

Please see below the call for papers<https://linguistlist.org/issues/37/345/> for our forthcoming one-and-a-half day symposium and subsequent edited collection on CDA and artificial intelligence, to be held at the University of Warwick on May 21st and 22nd, 2026:

Since the public release of ChatGPT in November 2022, generative artificial intelligence has become a key talking point in academic, educational, and professional contexts, as well as in broader public discourse. The capacity for Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate text and imagery in response to user inputs requires critical investigation to consider the nature and cultural impact of this new meaning-making phenomenon: what patterns of language and imagery do LLMs produce?, and how do such patterns of representation impact our knowledge and understanding of social and political issues? At the same time, generative AI may provide a tool that researchers can harness to detect patterns of representation or test claims about semiotic representation. These are important questions that can and must be addressed within the field of Critical Discourse Analysis.

By their nature, Large Language Models like ChatGPT generate outputs based on linguistic probability, rather than factual accuracy. The result is a network of discourse which excels in mimicking authoritative style, without necessarily being grounded in the same ontological authenticity. The critical study of these interactions can explore how users are misled by the language of LLMs and, crucially, what can be done to support a more informed engagement with this kind of language and interaction.

This one-and-a-half day symposium will explore these issues across a series of 20-minute research papers, concluding with a round-table discussion. Applicants are invited to propose papers on topics including, but without being limited to:


  *
Ideology and bias in AI language
  *
Power dynamics in human-AI interaction
  *
Discourses about AI in media and public life
  *
AI as a tool for teaching and research in Critical Discourse Analysis
  *
Multimodal analysis of AI-generated content
  *
Linguistic/cultural diversity, representation, and erasure in AI outputs
  *
The discursive construction of empathy and personality in AI-generated language

Following the symposium, we aim to publish these papers in an edited collection that will provide a first of its kind book-length critical treatment of discourses of artificial intelligence from a linguistic and multimodal semiotic perspective.

We invite the submission of 300-word abstracts (including title, references, and keywords) to be sent to Dr Matthew Voice (matthew.voice at warwick.ac.uk) by Friday 27th February, with decisions to be returned by Friday 13th March. There is no registration fee and a small bursary of up to £75 will be available to speakers (one per paper) in order to offset the cost of travel: please indicate in your application whether you wish to apply for this subsidy.

All the best,

Matt


Dr Matthew Voice (He/Him)

Assistant Professor | Director of Undergraduate Studies | Applied Linguistics | University of Warwick<https://warwick.ac.uk>
matthhew.voice at warwick.ac.uk<mailto:matthhew.voice at warwick.ac.uk> |

S0.33 | Social Sciences Building | University of Warwick | CV4 7AL | Find us on the interactive map<https://warwick.ac.uk/about/visiting/maps/>






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