Call for participants:  Eroding Dichotomies: Description, Analysis and Publishing in African Linguistics

Writing Workshop 19-20 September 2022, Stellenbosch, South Africa 

Applications are now open for a residential writing workshop aimed at early career researchers working in the field of descriptive and theoretical linguistics with a focus on Eastern and Southern African languages.

The workshop will take place in Stellenbosch, South Africa, from 19^th to 20th September 2022, just before the 23^rd Biennial International Conference of the African Languages Association of Southern Africa (http://alasa.org.za/), which will be held in Stellenbosch from 21^st to 24^th September 2022 (see more details below). We are also planning to hold a panel at the conference linked to the workshop.

What is the goal of the workshop?

The workshop brings together early career researchers and experienced editors, researchers and publishers. Through critical reflection, guidance and (peer-)mentoring, the workshop will develop and hone participants’ academic writing skills and their understanding of editorial, review publishing processes. Each participant will submit one work-in-progress research paper before the workshop and work on this in the lead up and throughout the workshop.

Participants will also peer-review others’ papers before and during the workshop.

A central theme of the workshop is discussion of ways to strengthen local and regional publishing in the global South and to ensure more equitable access to information and distribution of top-quality research outputs. The forging of ongoing scholarly links between early career researchers from across Eastern and Southern African is another important aspect of this work.

The workshop will include sessions and discussion on the following topics:

-       Linguistic description and theory

-       Writing for regional journals

-       Writing for international journals

-       Open Access publishing

-       Writing grant applications

-       Starting and running your own journal

-       A roundtable on decolonising linguistics

Who can attend?

The workshop is open to early career researchers from Eastern and Southern Africa who are working in the fields of documentary, descriptive and theoretical linguistics, with a focus on Eastern and Southern African languages. By early career researchers we mean scholars with a relevant MA who have either not yet completed their PhD or who completed their PhD within the last 5 years. All applicants are expected to have already published one paper and to have another paper in draft format that they would like to work on during their involvement in the workshop.

What does it cost?

Due to generous funding from the British Academy (https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/projects/eroding-dichotomies-description-analysis-and-publishing-african-linguistics/), the workshop is free for all accepted participants. In addition, the workshop will cover costs of accommodation from 19 to 20 September as well as some meals during the workshop. A number of travel stipends are available for applicants travelling from Eastern Africa, as well as for those travelling within Southern Africa. There are limited spaces available for local participants who are able to cover their own travel and accommodation costs. All applicants must follow the application process detailed below.

ALASA Conference

Following the writing workshop, the African Language Association of Southern Africa (ALASA) biannual conference will take place in Stellenbosch (21-24 September 2022). Participants are encouraged to submit abstracts to the conference but will be responsible for covering their own costs for attendance and staying in Stellenbosch during the conference. Additional information and the call for papers (deadline: 1 May 2022) can be found here: https://www.uwc.ac.za/news-and-announcements/announcements/second-call-for-papers-alasa-conference

How to apply

The application involves: 1) a 1-page extended abstract, 2) a draft paper 3) a summary of research outputs and future publication plans (maximum 1-page) and 4) an online application form. All submissions will be judged on academic merit and potential.

The extended abstract should describe i) the research context and background, ii) key questions, aims and objectives, iii) methodology and findings for the research, and, where appropriate, iv) selected references.

For information on writing an abstract, applicants may find the following helpful:

https://www.linguisticsociety.org/resource/model-abstracts

The draft paper should be in the range of 5,000-7,000 words. The paper should not already have been published or currently be in the submission and evaluation process by a journal. We recognise that as a draft it may still need additional work and input.

For information on developing draft papers, applicants may find the following helpful:

https://linguistlist.org/studentportal/writingresources.cfm

https://www.eva.mpg.de/lingua/resources/glossing-rules.php

Please complete the online application form and send your draft paper to Dr Hannah Gibson at (h.gibson@essex.ac.uk) by Wednesday 25^th May 2022 with the subject line ‘Writing Workshop 2022’. Link to the online form: https://forms.gle/X7PkesAdoExBV9oZ7

Application deadline: 25^th May 2022

The deadline for completion of both the online application form and submission of the abstract and paper is Wednesday 25^th May 2022. Please submit all portions of the application in order it to be considered.

Timeline

Application deadline: 25^th May 2022

Notification of outcome of application: 30^th June 2022

Peer-review, pairing with ‘writing buddies’ and experienced reviewer: July-September 2022

Workshop: 19^th-20^th September 2022

Organisers

The workshop is organized by Dr Hannah Gibson (University of Essex, UK), Dr David Barasa (Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya), Professor Lutz Marten (SOAS University of London, UK), and Dr Kristina Riedel (University of the Free State, South Africa).

The workshop is made possible through the support of a British Academy Writing Workshops grant (WW20200073) for the project entitled ‘Eroding dichotomies: description, analysis and publishing in African linguistics’. The generous support of the British Academy is gratefully acknowledged.