[IGALA] REMINDER : Call for Chapter Contributions - Rethinking Queer Linguistics? Theories, Applications, Future Directions

[Benedict J. L. ROWLETT]

*Apologies for Cross-posting*

Dear Colleagues,

A warm reminder:

We are seeking contributions to a new edited volume bringing together theoretical, methodological, and empirical approaches to Queer Linguistics with the overall aim of reflecting on and rethinking the status, impact, and future trajectories of the field.

Queer Linguistics, as a critical approach to the analysis of language and discourse, has gained much traction over the past two decades or so. Rooted in Feminist, Lesbian and Gay, and Lavender Linguistics, and informed by Queer Theory more broadly, Queer Linguistics (QL) has sought to extend the field of inquiry by adopting a critical position vis-a-vis the discursive formation of normativities around gender and sexuality. This is to examine how forms of cis-, hetero-, homo- and other normativities, are constructed, perpetuated and performed in and by language and discourse, including the important role of intersectionality and other related concepts (e.g., homonationalism). In addition, such examinations also encompass how these normative formations may potentially be overcome (at least linguistically). Accordingly, questions have recently arisen as to how QL might also find relevance to the broader field of Applied Linguistics, especially in the effort to reduce discriminatory communication and assign a greater role to diversity - a Queer “Applied” Linguistics as it were.

With that said, in seeking to reflect on the status and impact of QL in comparison to other related areas within and outside of linguistics, there are a number of potential lines of inquiry, but also challenges and complications that need to be considered. As anything “queer” evades being defined - by definition (pun intended), is it possible (or desirable) to map QL as a “discipline”, and what implications does this have for mapping its relations with other fields? Further challenges concern the poststructuralist heritage of QL, where the issues raised in queer theoretical and queer linguistic discussions still seem to be very far away from (and at first glance hardly compatible with) most of the prevailing public conceptions of sex/gender and sexuality, and the discourses related to them. Moreover, there is a need to rethink QL in terms of how decolonial and/or Southern perspectives and theories might be integrated with queer (applied) linguistic approaches.

As a way of responding to these issues and challenges in Queer (Applied) Linguistics and building on panel discussions at the Lavender Languages and Linguistics Conference in 2022 and the AILA World Congress in 2023, we, Martin Stegu, Joanna Chojnicka, and Benedict Rowlett, invite chapter contributions for an edited volume tentatively titled as above. We see this volume to be a forum for, on the one hand, engaging with theoretical/methodological issues in QL as it has developed over the past 20 years, as well as its future directions. On the other hand, we also see it as a forum that brings together contemporary applications of QL to address language related issues and problems in diverse contexts across the globe. Accordingly, we are particularly interested in receiving contributions from scholars who are working on relevant topics in underrepresented contexts of the Global South.

Areas we see the chapters potentially (re)addressing include (but are not limited to):

(1) Theoretical and methodological contributions - Traditional and potential new research fields in QL; Important challenges facing QL today and in the future; Different approaches to QL and the role diversity and pluralism play within QL itself, etc.

(2) Empirical contributions (Queer Applied Linguistics) - Applications of QL in education; the workplace, etc.

The volume is anticipated to be one of the first publications in a new series with Bloomsbury Academic on the topic of Queer Linguistics. We will therefore work closely with Bloomsbury editors on developing and delivering what promises to be an exciting and important collection of current work in the field.

Please send a tentative title and 200-word abstract by the end of February 2024 to Martin (martin.stegu at wu.ac.at<mailto:martin.stegu at wu.ac.at>) Joanna (j.chojnicka at rug.nl<mailto:j.chojnicka at rug.nl>), and Ben (browlett at hkbu.edu.hk<mailto:browlett at hkbu.edu.hk>) Please also include your name and contact information. We look forward to receiving your abstracts.

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