CEETA 2018

3rd Colloquium on Empirical Evidence and Theoretical Assumptions

as part of the, 28th European Functional Linguistics Conference (ESFLC)
5th to 7th July 2018 in Pavia, Italy
http://www-7.unipv.it/28esflc/

[PDF version]

New: Extended deadline for submissions – Friday 19th January 2018 [revised January 2 2018]

SFL has a rich history of describing discourse and linguistic phenomena through the interpretive lenses provided by its theoretical perspectives. However, such descriptions do not always become predictive models that can be tested. In a sense, SFL addresses the semiotic potential of a language rather than what happens within and between individuals during language processing and production, meaning that, although it is a model of language use, it has no explicit model for language in use. Even in the numerous SFL-studies of linguistic variation on the supra-individual level (register, genre), empirical methodologies are receiving little attention. Furthermore, SFL has only engaged to a limited extent with other models or research paradigms whose evidences might support, challenge, or expand SFL theoretical positions. This colloquium has the aim of providing a dedicated forum for discussion of theoretical claims, their representations in models, and the relevant evidences. Experimental and theoretical submissions framed in models other than SFL are also welcome if they address one or more of the topics below and show at least some degree of relevance to SFL theory.

Paper topics:
Following the first two colloquia (Salzburg 2016, Salamanca 2017) we invite abstract submissions which address one (or more) of the three areas listed below:

1. Relevant Research Topics:
• Fundamental questions regarding the nature of linguistic investigation
• While many questions may be relevant for the study of language, which of these questions are open to empirical investigation?
• To what extent do process questions, such as what happens within and between individual speakers during language processing and production, integrate with (social-semiotic) system based models?

2. Data:
• Fundamental questions regarding what counts as relevant data
• Which types of data are representative for which types of research questions?
• How can we evaluate the reliability of our findings based on the quality of the data and its relation to the underlying population?

3. Interpretation and Theoretical Development:
• Questions regarding the interpretation of data that may involve multiple layers of inference
• The interpretation of data ensembles resulting from data triangulation
• Challenging theoretical assumptions and models on the basis of empirical data

Submission Guidelines – Extended Deadline: Friday 19th January 2018
Abstracts must follow the general conference abstract submission guidelines (250 words maximum plus a short indicative bibliography). In addition, please also clearly indicate the following:
1. That you want your abstract to be considered for the colloquium.
2. Specific mention in your abstract of how your contribution relates to at least one of the three above mentioned issues.