Objectives of the conference

1. GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE

This conference builds on the results of previous eight conferences and workshops held in Graz (2011), Salamanca (2012), Guilford (2014), Graz (2015), Münster (2017), Nitra (2018), Graz (2019) and Stockholm (2019) as can be seen in the eight published volumes (see website), explored the field, defined the scientific terminology associated with the descriptions of pluricentricity, described the current situation of non-dominant standards in languages of four continents and discussed sociological, educational and cultural implications of managing language standard systems.

The main objective of the 9th WGNDV-conference is to further deepen the already available knowledge about pluricentric languages and to welcome scholars from all over the world to provide an insight into the linguistic situation and the specific characteristics of as many pluricentric languages and their varieties as possible.

2. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE

Section (1): Pluricentric languages in the Americas:

  1. The 9th International Conference on Pluricentric Languages (PCLs) and their Non-Dominant Varieties will specifically deal with PCLs in the Americas such as: Aymara, Dutch, English, French, Guarani, Spanish, Papiamento, Portuguese and Quechua.
  2. Apart from these, there is a large number of indigenous languages that might be pluricentric but have not been researched so far . Examples are: Miskito (Honduras, Nicaragua), Guaymí/Ngäbere (Panama, Costa Rica), Kʼicheʼ (Guatemala, Mexico), Kichwa (Ecuador, Colombia) etc.
  3. The conference organisers would be particularly happy to welcome scholars working on indigenous languages of the Americas checking their status as a PCL and presenting their results at this conference.

Section (2):The localisation of global media in pluricentric language areas:

  1. The streaming platforms Disney+, but also Netflix and others have come under criticism because of the limited language versions they offer. They often own the translations of their content, but for some reason lack the sociolinguistic knowledge of the language situation in the markets they try to conquer. No Catalan version was available on Disney+ Spain. No Icelandic version on Disney+ Iceland. No Belgian Dutch version on Disney+ Belgium, no Austrian German or Swiss German etc. version on Netflix or Disney+. Although Disney ownes all of these translated versions and could easily include them.
  2. The same applies to the language versions of cartoon series like Peppa Pig , audio players (Tonibox) and audio materials used that are only ailable in the language versions of the dominant variety and massively influence the early language acquisition. Parents of small children in Austria for example complain that they often cannot read children books from Germany to their children without translating many words as the original ones are not in use in Austria.
  3. We hope for papers on this highly actual topic and also hope for papers that are dealing with language education and early languaguage aquisition in PCLs, especially in non-dominant varieties that are influenced through language contact from the dominant varieties in early childhood.

Section (3): General section - Pluricentric languages worldwide:

  1. In this general section, we are looking forward to papers about PCLs in the regions of the world other than in the Americas.
  2. It is also possible to establish subsections if there are enough presentations.

3. THEMATIC PRIORITIES

  • Pluricentric languages in the Americas
  • The localisation of global media that influence the language acquisition of children
  • Non-dominant varieties of pluricentric languages - perspectives and views
  • Pluricentric languages: concept, characteristics, description
  • Language policies for pluricentric languages
  • Corpora construction for pluricentric languages
  • Pluricentric languages and language education