Date: April 13-15, 2007

Venue:
Institute of Discourse and Cultural Studies
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

Details:
http://www.shixu.com/institute-conference/

Presentation:

The first International Conference on Multicultural Discourses (Oct. 2004, Hangzhou), organized by the Institute of Discourse and Cultural Studies, Zhejiang University, has turned out to be an international academic success. It represents a new and much needed direction in social science in general and discourse studies in particular. For this reason, we are making the Multicultural Discourses Conference a tri-annual event: the next one will be held in Hangzhou (again) between April 13-15, 2007 (the weekend following the Easter).

The Second International Conference on Multicultural Discourses remains committed to the original aims, namely, the promotion of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue and critique in discourse/language/communication scholarship, the study of discourses of non-mainstream, especially non-western, cultures and research into new discourses helpful to cultural solidarity and prosperity. The conference topics include but are not restricted by the following:

concepts and theories of language/communication/discourse outside the Western mainstream as well as the related research and teaching traditions;

intercultural dialogue, critique and cross-fertilisation in discourse/language/communication studies;

globalisation of non-western intellectual traditions

discourses that reflect the realities, issues, concerns and aspirations of marginalised or otherwise troubled groups and communities;

new or alternative discourses of cultural cohesion and progress;

rules and needs for conducting intercultural and international communication;

localization of English as international language

Thus we encourage scholars and students from across the world and with different disciplinary backgrounds to participate in this emerging and growing trend that attempts to achieve cultural harmony through innovative language/communication/discourse/culture research. English interpretation will be provided for papers in Chinese.

The conference will consist of (a) parallel paper sessions,  (b) panel discussions, (c)  keynote speeches and  (d)  a plenary with invited speakers. Abstracts and panel proposals are hereby invited.  Deadline for submitting abstracts (one page per author(s)) and panel proposals (complete with individual half-page abstracts): Nov. 1st 2006.