Workshop announcement

[Bill McGregor]

Second European Workshop on Australian Languages
Narrative and grammar


Organisers:	Bill McGregor, Aarhus University (linwmg at hum.au.dk)
Jean-Christophe Verstraete, University of Leuven
(Jean-Christophe.Verstraete at arts.kuleuven.be)

Dates:		23rd-25th April 2006
Venue:	Old priest’s house, Somlószõllõs, Hungary – Somlószõllõs is about
150kms from Budapest (2½hrs by train) and 100 from Vienna


Narrative enjoys an important place in Aboriginal cultures and thought, as
perhaps for human beings universally. Nevertheless, the study of
Australian Aboriginal narratives is still in its infancy. Grammar can
provide us with tools for the investigation of the structure and functions
of narratives and narrative units. On the other hand, narrative-based
investigations of grammatical phenomena can reveal important things about
the semantics of grammatical categories.

Papers are invited that address issues pertaining to the interface of the
two domains. Possible topics that could be addressed are: the ways
grammatical categories function in narratives; the structure of narratives
as reflected in the use of grammatical categories and markers; the way
genres can drive the emergence of new grammatical categories; differences
between narratives and other genres as reflected in the use of grammatical
categories; how the grammar of space constructs spatial relations in
narrative; and the deployment of grammar in information packaging (here
lies a raft of universal hypotheses that could be tested in particular
languages, e.g. Du Bois’ Given-A constraint).

Papers on other topics in Aboriginal linguistics are also welcome.

Accommodation: The old priest’s house (also conference venue) has fairly
basic accommodation for around 10 persons. There are a couple of more
up-market options in the village, including a motel and hotel within short
walking distance. All accommodation is cheap by European standards. Meals
will be organized as a part of the workshop package.

Timetable:	22nd April – suggested arrival date for participants.
23rd-24th April – presentations, probably divided into two sessions:
Narrative and grammar, and General.
25th April – leisurely walk on the mountain (Somló), with visit to notable
sights (lookout, castle ruins, vineyards). Evening: BBQ and wine sampling.

Important dates:

Preliminary registration by 31st December 2005
Title of proposed paper to both organizers by 31st January 2006

Later registration and titles will be accepted, but the go-ahead for the
workshop depends on sufficient response by the above dates.

Conference website:
http://fc.hum.au.dk/~linwmg/Second_workshop/Information.htm 

Bill McGregor & Jean-Christophe Verstraete


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Prof. William McGregor,
Institut for Lingvistik,
Aarhus Universitet,
Building 1410, 
Ndr. Ringgade,
DK-8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
Ph. 45 89 42 65 59
Fax 45 89 42 65 70
e:mail: linwmg at hum.au.dk
http://www.hum.au.dk/lingvist/linwmg/
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