Annual Conference: Friday May 11th 2018, 10am – 5.30pm

Venue: School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics

SOAS, University of London

 ‘African Languages in Public Spaces: Opportunities & Challenges’

Plenary speaker: Professor Leketi Makalela 

Re-imagining multilingualism as a cultural competence in Africa: leaking boundaries, ubuntu and multilanguaging in public spaces’

Professor Makalela is Head of the Division of Languages, Literacies and Literatures at Wits School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand.

ABSTRACTS of up to 250 words for 20 minute presentations are now invited, to be sent to Goodith White, Convenor, at: anne.goodithwhite@ucd.ie and cc c.reilly.1@research.gla.ac.uk no later than March 31st 2018. We also invite proposals for posters. There is a £50 prize for the best.

Topics of interest around the theme could include, but are not limited to:

  • African languages in politics and government
  • African languages in health and other campaigns
  • The use of African languages in song, poetry and literature
  • African languages as drivers of development
  • African languages in digital spaces
  • Multilingualism
  • Language choice
  • African languages in education

Posters

Posters can be either a traditional paper poster or a PowerPoint slide. Screens will be made available to display these.

Presentations

We encourage abstract submissions from individuals who may not be able to physically attend the conference as we can accommodate virtual presentation via Skype, Google Hangouts etc.

REGISTRATION: Please register by April 30th 2018 so that we can make a final order for catering for the day. This is included in the attendance fee of £25 for BAAL members, £35 for non-members, and £20 for students.  We particularly welcome postgraduate students.  Registration forms are available from the LIASIG website:  http://liasig.wordpress.com Enquiries to:  Elvis Yevudey, yevudeye@aston.ac.uk