Call for papers: JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE, IDENTITY & EDUCATION (special topic issue on gender identity in bilingual communities) - DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS 1 MARCH

[McGinnis, Scott]

Journal of Language, Identity, and Education	

Call Deadline: 1-Mar-2003
Thomas Ricento and Terrence G. Wiley, co-editors

Call for Papers
Special Topic Issue: (Re)constructing Gender in a New Voice:
The role of gender identity in (perceived) success in SLA.
Juliet Langman, Guest Editor

>>From an individual learner's perspective, a central question in SLA
is the extent to which the process is conceptualized as one of
learning the discourse conventions of the new community or conversely
one of creating a new self which fits in the new community. Recent
work in the area of second language acquisition informed by
sociocultural theories examines this question explicitly through
analysis of gender identity (re)positionings or transformations. A
second strand of recent research explores the extent to which identity
plays a role in the ability to 'pass', that is to be perceived as a
native speaker, either in the case of adult immigrants, or in the case
of bilinguals living in bilingual communities. Drawing these two areas
of research together can allow for an examination of the role of
gender identity as one component of the complex process of acquiring
and being perceived as a 'native' in more than one language.

Cameron (1998) argues that we need theories of gender capable of
changing people's customary ways of thinking.  To this we might add
that we need theories of gender that explain the processes by which
individual learners develop and practice new linguistic forms for the
purpose of either maintaining or changing customary ways of thinking
in new contexts. An examination of the tensions between new and old
ways of expressing identity that are evoked by shifts in code and
context will allow for theorizing on the nature of gender identity and
its role in language learning and use.

By drawing together papers that compare the role of gender identity in
bilingual communities with that of adult immigrants engaged in second
language acquisition, this special issue of the Journal of Language,
Identity, and Education will explore in greater depth the complex
relationship between societal factors and individual perceptions that
work together to shape identity practices.

The Journal of Language, Identity, and Education invites contributions
to this special issue to be published in Winter 2004. We are
soliciting papers which deal with the process of 'passing as a
native', or being an 'authentic' speaker of a second language, as well
as the underlying ideologies associated with language and with gender
that orient speakers to particular language practices.  Contributions
from nontraditional settings and under-represented scholarly circles
are encouraged. We are currently soliciting two- to three-page
abstracts for this issue. Send (by e mail or snail mail) two copies of
the abstract and a biographical statement (of about 50 words) with a
full mailing address, daytime/evening phone numbers, and e-mail
address (if available) no later than March 1, 2003, to:

Dr. Juliet Langman
Division of Bicultural Bilingual Studies
College of Education and Human Development
University of Texas, San Antonio
6900 North Loop, 1604 West
San Antonio, TX 78249


Brief proposals for book reviews are also welcome.
jlangman at utsa.edu