Conference announcement

[Peter Austin]

THIRD OXFORD–KOBE LINGUISTICS SEMINAR

THE LINGUISTICS OF ENDANGERED LANGUAGES

KOBE, JAPAN, 2-5 APRIL 2006

INTRODUCTION:

The Third Oxford–Kobe Linguistics Seminar, on 'The Linguistics of Endangered Languages', is being organized at the St. Catherine's College (University of Oxford) Kobe Institute, in Kobe, Japan, by Peter Austin (SOAS, University of London), Masayoshi Shibatani (Rice University & Kobe University), and John Charles Smith (University of Oxford), between 2 and 5 April 2006.

The goal of the seminar is to elaborate on the point (often made, but less frequently demonstrated) that the loss of endangered languages means the loss of unique and unusual linguistic features that we would otherwise have no knowledge of, and that the extinction of languages inevitably results in a poorer linguistics and a poorer language and cultural heritage for the world as a whole.  The Seminar aims to bring together leading authorities in the field and invites them to summarize their position in 'state of the art' papers, while simultaneously promoting collaboration and scholarly exchange between academic colleagues from Japan and other countries in a relaxed and convivial environment.  We invite everyone with an interest in linguistic typology and endangered languages to join us on this occasion. A special welcome is extended to younger scholars and graduate students.

SEMINAR TIMETABLE:

The Seminar will begin in the late afternoon/early evening on Sunday, 2 April 2006, with Registration and a Welcome Reception.  The three days from Monday, 3 April to Wednesday 5 April, inclusive, will be devoted to papers and discussion.  It is suggested that participants should arrive during the morning or early afternoon of Sunday, 2 April, and leave on Thursday, 6 April.  All papers will be invited plenary lectures and will last 50-55 minutes.  The language of the Seminar will be English. 

SEMINAR PROGRAMME:

The following scholars have agreed to give papers at the Seminar: 

Peter Austin, SOAS, University of London, UK 
Peri Bhaskararao, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Japan 
Claire Bowern, Rice University, USA 
Shuanfan Huang, National Taiwan University, Taiwan 
Ritsuko Kikusawa, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan
Friederike Luepke, SOAS, University of London, UK 
Martin Maiden, University of Oxford, UK 
Elena Maslova, Stanford University, USA
Denny Moore, Museu Goeldi, Belem, Brazil
Osami Okuda, Sapporo Gakuin University, Japan 
Keren Rice, University of Toronto, Canada 
Malcolm Ross, Australian National University, Australia 
Masayoshi Shibatani, Rice University, USA / Kobe University, Japan 
Graham Thurgood, California State University, Chico, USA
Tasaku Tsunoda, University of Tokyo, Japan 
Roberto Zavala, CIESAS-Sureste, Mexico 

A detailed programme, including titles and abstracts of papers, will be available in the Autumn.  

PARTICIPATION — PAPERS AND POSTER SESSION:

The working language of the Seminar will be English.  All papers will be plenary, and will be followed by discussion.  As before, we hope to publish a volume of proceedings.

Although the papers at the Seminar will be by invitation only, a period will be set aside for poster presentations.  This session is intended primarily as an opportunity for younger scholars, including graduate students, to present their work.  We welcome proposals for poster presentations, abstracts of which (not exceeding 250 words) should be emailed (preferably as BOTH .pdf AND .rtf attachments; .doc format should be avoided) to ALL THREE organizers at the following addresses by 15 January 2006:

	Peter Austin:		pa2 at soas.ac.uk 
	Masayoshi Sibatani:	matt at rice.edu
	John Charles Smith:	johncharles.smith at stcatz.ox.ac.uk 

Any queries about the organization and content of the Seminar should also be emailed to the same addresses.

REGISTRATION:

There will be a registration fee of JPY10,000 (approx. GBP50, EUR75, or USD90) for participants other than organizers and invited speakers.  Coffee and tea, buffet lunches, and drinks before dinner will be provided at the Institute, and are included in the registration fee.  Dinner after the Welcome Reception and a Conference Dinner (both buffet style) are available to general participants, students, and poster presenters at JPY3,000 (approx. GBP15, EUR22, or USD27) per meal, subject to advance reservation.  Drinks will be provided in the SCR Bar after each dinner, and are included in this charge.  Meals for vegetarians will be prepared on request.

To register for the Seminar, and/or to obtain more information about the Seminar and the Kobe Institute, please contact the Chief Bursar of the Kobe Institute, Dr Kaizaburo Saito, as follows:

email:	 kaizas at kobeinst.com

postal address:  St. Catherine's College (University of Oxford) Kobe Institute, 53-1 Maruyama, Gomo-Aza, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-0801 Japan  

telephone:  +81-78-881-2277	fax:  +81-78-881-2552

web:  http://kobeinst.com/3lg01.htm

A downloadable registration form will be available shortly.

The deadline for registration will be 3 March 2006.



Prof Peter K. Austin
Marit Rausing Chair in Field Linguistics
Director, Endangered Languages Academic Program
Department of Linguistics, SOAS
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square
London WC1H 0XG
United Kingdom

web: http://www.hrelp.org