TRADING IDENTITIES

Commonality and Individuality in English Academic Discourse

Hosted by CERLIS, University of Bergamo, Italy

19-21 June 2008

PROCEEDINGS: Linguistic Insights Vol. 100

The aim of this conference, linked to a national project on Identity and Culture in English Domain-Specific Discourse, is to explore the relationship between shared disciplinary norms and individual traits in academic speech and writing. Identity is indeed a matter of individuality as well as sameness: it defines what makes individuals similar to their peers but also what makes them to a certain extent unique. Despite the standardizing pressure of cultural and language-related factors, academic communication remains in many ways a highly personal affair, with active participation in a disciplinary community requiring a multidimensional discourse that combines the professional, institutional, social and individual identities of its members.

Within the bounds of this perspective, paper proposals are invited on the following themes:

• Tensions involving individual/collective values in academic discourse
• Corpus analyses of collective vs. individual discoursal features
• Longitudinal investigations of the output of individual scholars
• Ethnographic investigations of ‘new disciplinary voices’
• Generic norms and their violation by junior/senior researchers

Invited Keynote speakers

- Ken Hyland (University of London)

- Keith Richards (University of Warwick)

- Paul Thompson (University of Reading)

Organizing committee

- Maurizio Gotti

- Marina Dossena

- Davide S. Giannoni

- Stefania M. Maci

- Michele Sala

- Larissa D’Angelo

Conference venue

The Conference will be hosted by CERLIS, the research centre on specialized discourse operating at the University of Bergamo, an institution where research has always been in the foreground and where various national and international conferences have already been organized (see http://www.unibg.it/cerlis ).

Schedule

The conference will start on Thursday morning and end at lunchtime on Saturday.

As for accompanying persons, while there is no dedicated programme for them during the conference, they are very welcome to register for the social events listed in the registration form.

Equipment

The conference room is equipped with OHP, microphone and video projector for Powerpoint presentations – there is no need to bring your own laptop, but your presentation should be fully Windows compatible. Please make sure you bring ca. 50 copies of any handouts you may have, as last-minute photocopying is likely to be quite expensive. Internet access will be made available to conference delegates in the University language centre (open Mon-Fri 9-19, via Salvecchio 19).

Important Dates

Registration

The online registration can be effected between 01.01.2008 and 10.06.2008 using the form here attached.

The fee includes a welcome evening reception on 19^th June, and tea / coffee breaks.

Please note:

No registration will be processed after 10^th June 2008.

No partial registration is envisaged, so it will not be possible to register for just one or two days.

No registration can be processed unless a copy of the bank transfer is attached.

All bank charges are to be borne by the participant.

Cancellation policy:

All cancellations should be notified not later than 10^th June 2008. In any case, a cancellation fee of 30 euros will be charged. Reimbursements will be by bank transfer after the Conference closure.

Methods of payment:

a. by bank transfer to Università degli Studi di Bergamo

c/o BPU - Banca Popolare di Bergamo, Piazza Vittorio Veneto - 24100 Bergamo (I)

account no. 21048; ABI: 05428; CAB: 11101; CIN: L;

BIC: BEPOIT22020

IBAN: IT43L0542811101000000021048

Reason for bank transfer (must be indicated in the form): CERLIS2008

Please remember that all bank charges are to be borne by the participant. Also remember to fax a copy of your bank transfer, together with the registration form, to +39 (0)35 2052 738 or +39 (0)35 2052 738 789 as soon as the transfer has been effected.

Download the registration form here

b. by credit card (online payment) - only VISA and MASTERCARD

(a 2% bank charge will be added automatically to your total amount)

Online registration form here.

After your Registration, you will be informed of the total amount to pay and the procedures for payment.

Payment must then be made within 10 days (or the last day of the Registration period, if that is later); if payment has not been made in that period and a new fee period has been entered, then you will receive a new total. In any case, payment must be made before the conference starts.)

Travel information

Bergamo is in Northern Italy, 50 Kms north-east of Milan, on the way to Lake Garda and Venice. Thanks to its international airport (sometimes advertised as ‘Milan-Orio al Serio’, or Milan-BGY), Bergamo can be reached by plane from many European cities; alternatively, participants may fly to Milan and take a train to Bergamo.

Getting to Bergamo

Stopover in Milan

Map of Bergamo – Upper Town

Map of Bergamo – Lower Town

Weather

Accommodation and meals

Participants are invited to make their own accommodation arrangements. Both in the Lower Town and in the Upper Town various hotels are available, from relatively inexpensive to luxury: below you will find a list of possible contacts. Early booking is highly recommended, as Bergamo is a popular tourist destination throughout the year.

As for meals, many restaurants and bars are located in the neighbourhood of the Conference venue.

Hotels

(°) = Hotels with special rates for conference participants. When booking, please remember to indicate “Cerlis 2008. University of Bergamo”.

Bed & breakfast

(See also www.bed-and-breakfast.it - click the Region, ‘Lombardy’, and then the city, ‘Bergamo’).

Budget accommodation is available at the local Youth Hostel

(www.ostellodibergamo.it/hostel.html ).

Further details about accommodation are online at www.apt.bergamo.it/

Social programme

The social programme includes:

- A welcome evening reception on 19^th June;

- A Conference Dinner on 20^th June: this will take place at one of the nicest restaurants in San Vigilio (http://www.ristorantepizzeriasanvigilio.it/eng/index.asp), on the hills of Città Alta (Upper Town). The restaurant is at a short distance from the San Vigilio funicular stop, and offers a beautiful view over the Astino Valley. Given the limited sitting capacity, we do recommend early booking in order to avoid disappointment. Please indicate in the registration form any special dietary requirement;

- An organised excursion on 21^st June (afternoon + evening): Oratorio Suardi + Dinner in a Valcalepio winery: visit to a winery (www.medolagoalbani.it ) in the Valcalepio area (www.bergamotour.it/prodotti/vini.htm ), the home of Bergamo’s own excellent DOC red and white wines. The visit and meal (set menu) will be preceded by a chance to see a 15th–century chapel with frescoes (www.arengario.net/momenti/momenti08.html ) by Lorenzo Lotto in a nearby mansion. A minimum number of 30 participants is required. Given the limited number of bus seats (50 persons), early booking is highly recommended.

Submissions

The deadline for submissions is 31^st October 2007. Please send your abstract (300 words) to <cerlis@unibg.it> as an RTF attachment – to this end, a dedicated form is provided here attached. Acceptance will be notified by 30^th November 2007.

As a selection of accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings, finalized versions of papers presented at the Conference will be expected to arrive by 15^th October 2008.

Download here the submission form here

How to contact us

By email: cerlis@unibg.it

By post: CERLIS 2008 – Università di Bergamo – Piazza Rosate 2 – 24129 Bergamo (Italy)

By telephone: + 39.035.2052.738 or + 39.035.2052.721

By fax: + 39.035,2052.738 or + 39.035.2052.789

PROCEEDINGS: Linguistic Insights Vol. 100