35.2384, Calls: ELF Communication Today: Acceptability and Accessibility in Focus

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-35-2384. Wed Sep 04 2024. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 35.2384, Calls: ELF Communication Today: Acceptability and Accessibility in Focus

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Date: 01-Sep-2024
From: Jacqueline Aiello [elf2024 at unisa.it]
Subject: ELF Communication Today: Acceptability and Accessibility in Focus


Full Title: ELF Communication Today: Acceptability and Accessibility
in Focus

Date: 04-Dec-2024 - 05-Dec-2024
Location: University of Salerno, Italy
Contact Person: Jacqueline Aiello
Meeting Email: jaiello at unisa.it

Linguistic Field(s): Applied Linguistics; Discourse Analysis; Language
Acquisition; Sociolinguistics; Translation
Subject Language(s): English (eng)

Call Deadline: 10-Sep-2024

Meeting Description:

The conference “ELF Communication Today: Acceptability and
Accessibility in Focus” will be held on 4 and 5 December 2024 at the
University of Salerno, Italy. This conference, which marks the end of
the first year of the PRIN 2022 PNRR project “Acceptability strategies
through variations of English as a lingua franca in multicultural and
multimodal discourse types” (University of Salento | University of
Salerno) funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU, aims to
offer a platform for interdisciplinary scholarly exchange on the
features and complexities of contemporary English communication across
various fields and global contexts. It emphasizes the opportunities
and challenges associated with the acceptability and accessibility of
English(es) and English as a lingua franca (ELF). In light of the
pervasive use of English across different global contexts,
professional environments, and institutional domains, how can we
define language accessibility and acceptability for this lingua
franca? What are the processes and mechanisms by which accessibility
and acceptability are pursued and/or realized in contemporary English
practices? What are the implications when these efforts fall short?

The widespread use of English, which transcends national borders and
cultural boundaries while facilitating global interactions across
different levels of formality and specialization, presents a multitude
of linguistic, sociocultural, and pragmatic challenges. One angle that
we are interested in exploring relates to the multifaceted nature of
English, which many users perceive simultaneously as simple yet
elusive, coveted yet unexceptional, and global yet exclusive. A
noteworthy example of the implications of the multiplicity of English
can be observed within the EU. In his recent article in World
Englishes, Modiano (2024) argues that English has significantly shaped
the sociocultural fabric of European society and it serves as a medium
through which European citizens express support for European
integration and a common European identity. He raises the critical
question of whether an EU English - characterized by unique forms and
functions resulting from European nativization processes and thus
freed from the stronghold of Inner Circle varieties - can gain
acceptance. While recent research indicates a growing awareness and
acceptance among global users of localized, dehegemonized, and
hybridized forms of English (see, for instance, Boonsuk, Ambel &
McKinley, 2021), there is broad acknowledgement that obstacles to
linguistic heterogeneity persist, particularly in formal, gatekeeping
domains (Hamid, 2023; Sah & Fang, 2024).

Van Dijk (2000, p. 73) asserted that “differences of power between
different groups are reflected in their differential access to public
discourse,” with members of elite groups enjoying much greater access.
Recent developments, including the Covid-19 pandemic and global
conflicts, have underscored the urgency of ensuring accessibility to
public discourse to safeguard public health, safety and well-being.
Thus, another key focus of this conference is to investigate efforts
by international, supranational, and/or local institutions and
individuals to achieve greater accessibility in their English
communication. These efforts can be explored through the linguistic,
discursive, and communicative strategies adopted to enhance
communication effectiveness with multilingual and multicultural
audiences across different formats. Additionally, individuals and
organizations have also capitalized on resources such as
translanguaging, multilingualism, translation, multimodality and
spatiality in their linguistic practices in their efforts to enact
intercultural stances, to overcome barriers posed by the potential
lack of linguistic, digital and/or specialized skills or knowledge,
and to develop more inclusive discourses.

2nd Call for Papers:

We welcome submissions of empirical studies, theoretical
contributions, case studies, and innovative research methodologies on
the following topics:
 • Acceptability of ELF and Englishes
 • Adaptations to specialized content for non-specialized audiences
 • Attitudes towards English(es) and language ideologies
 • ELF and language ownership
 • ELF in academia
 • ELF in online communication
 • ELF in the dissemination of scientific knowledge and research
 • English(es) and European identity
 • Inclusivity initiatives and strategies in ELF-mediated interactions
 • Institutional uses of English
 • Linguistic hybridization and acceptability
 • Multilingualism, translanguaging and translation in today’s global
communication
 • Multimodality and digital resources for the enhancement of ELF
communication
 • Nativization and localization of English in the EU
 • Power and inequality in ELF interactions
 • Strategies for accessibility in crisis communication

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking conference as we explore
the dynamics of the use of English as a lingua franca in today’s
interconnected world.

Abstracts of no more than 300 words and a brief bio (100 words) should
be sent to elf2024 at unisa.it by 10 September 2024. Abstracts should
clearly state the research question, methodology, (expected) findings,
and implications.



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