[Lingtyp] Call for contributions to workshop: Modality in Bantu: Variation & change

[Rasmus Bernander]

Call for contributions to workshop: Modality in Bantu: Variation & change

November 6-7 2025

Mkwawa University of Education (MUCE), Iringa, Tanzania

We invite contributions to the upcoming workshop on expressions of modality in Bantu with a special focus on the role of variation and change in this domain.
This workshop aims to bring together linguistic scholars from different areas to explore variation and change in the expression of modality in Bantu languages. We welcome submissions from a wide set of research designs and theoretical and methodological perspectives, provided they address modal expressions in Bantu and any associated variation and change. Submissions that address modality and contact-induced variation and change are especially encouraged.
Submissions may include but are not limited to the following topics:

  *   Synchronically or diachronically oriented investigations (or a combination of both).


  *   Studies on any formal categories of modal construction and formal processes of change.

  *   Analyses of specific functional subcategories of modality or investigations examining the origin and development of a single marker.


  *   Investigations of either an individual language (variety) or comparative studies at any level (from language-internal repertories or lects, to small set of languages, large-scale family-based studies, or areally confined studies).


  *   Studies on Bantu modality that explore contact phenomena at any level of analysis and from any part of the Bantu speaking region.

We also welcome submissions that primarily address evidentiality, mood, aspect, or other closely related concepts, provided they can be shown to interact with modality, e.g., by originating from or becoming increasingly associated with a modal function".

For the full call including all the necessary practical information, as well as a questionnaire in English and Swahili for eliciting modal expressions, see https://sites.google.com/view/modality-in-bantu/

Presentations will be 20 minutes followed by 10 minutes for questions and comments. Each author may participate in a maximum of 2 abstracts.

Interested participants should submit an anonymous abstract + cover letter of no more than 300 words (excluding references) either in English or Swahili to BantuMods at gmail.com<mailto:BantuMods at gmail.com>
The deadline for all abstract submissions is March 31, 2025.

Conference location
Mkwawa University of Education (MUCE), Iringa, Tanzania
Muce | Mkwawa University College of Education<https://muce.udsm.ac.tz/>

Important dates
Deadline for submission of abstracts: March 31, 2025

Notification of acceptance: April 30, 2025

Conference: November 6-7, 2025
Keynote speakers
Confirmed: Thera Crane (University of Helsinki), Deo Kawalya (Makerere University)
Conveners

Rasmus Bernander (rasmus.bernander at sprak.gu.se<mailto:rasmus.bernander at sprak.gu.se>)
Ponsiano Kanijo (ponsiano.kanijo at muce.ac.tz<mailto:ponsiano.kanijo at muce.ac.tz>; kanijo2008 at gmail.com<mailto:kanijo2008 at gmail.com>)
Maud Devos (maud.devos at africamuseum.be<mailto:maud.devos at africamuseum.be>)
Gilles-Maurice de Schryver (GillesMaurice.DeSchryver at ugent.be<mailto:GillesMaurice.DeSchryver at ugent.be>)

Local Organizers

  1.  Dr. Salehe Kaoneka (salehe.salehe at muce.ac.tz<mailto:salehe.salehe at muce.ac.tz>)
  2.  Dr. Ponsiano Kanijo (ponsiano.kanijo at muce.ac.tz<mailto:ponsiano.kanijo at muce.ac.tz>; kanijo2008 at gmail.com<mailto:kanijo2008 at gmail.com>)
  3.  Dr. Gervas Kawonga (gervas.kawonga at muce.ac.tz<mailto:gervas.kawonga at muce.ac.tz>)
  4.  Dr. Spemba Spemba (spemba.spemba at muce.ac.tz<mailto:spemba.spemba at muce.ac.tz>)
  5.  Dr. Aneth Kasebele (aneth.kasebele at muce.ac.tz<mailto:aneth.kasebele at muce.ac.tz>)
  6.  Mr. Mahenda Jagadi (mahenda.jagadi at muce.ac.tz<mailto:mahenda.jagadi at muce.ac.tz>)
  7.  Mr. Edward Nsolo (edward.nsolo at muce.ac.tz<mailto:edward.nsolo at muce.ac.tz>)
  8.  Ms. Johari Ikombola (Johari.ikombola at muce.ac.tz<mailto:Johari.ikombola at muce.ac.tz>)
  9.  Mr. Wincheslaus Auson (wincheslaus.auson at muce.ac.tz<mailto:wincheslaus.auson at muce.ac.tz>)
  10. Ms. Anselmina Shinyaka (anselmina.shinyaka at muce.ac.tz<mailto:anselmina.shinyaka at muce.ac.tz>)

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