5th ESTIDIA Conference - Hybrid Dialogues: Transcending Binary Thinking and Moving Away from Societal Polarizations

The 5th ESTIDIA conference, to be held on 19-21 September 2019, is organised by ESTIDIA together with the I-LanD Interuniversity Research Centre and hosted by the University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’. The theme of the conference was prompted by the risks and challenges posed by the increasing use of virulent polemics both on- and off-line that are constantly shifting the boundaries between traditionally dichotomous forms of communication (e.g., public/private, face-to-face/virtual, formal/informal, polite/impolite) and types of mindsets (e.g., trust/distrust, liberal/illiberal, rational/emotional, biased/unbiased). In order to foster forms of open and democratic dialogue, it is essential to question the legitimacy of dichotomy-based ways of debate that occur online and offline, and expose the surge of abusive language and trolling aimed at weakening trust in civil community and representative institutions. In situations when interlocutors fail to listen to each other, genuine dialogue turns into a pseudo-dialogue (‘dialogue des sourds’) made up of disconnected sequences of monologues, or simply into a mock-dialogue of audience-targeted and media-supported performance. At the opposite end of the continuum are newly emerging forms of dialogue, such as ‘hybrid dialogues’, which mark a paradigm shift through more inclusiveness and easy accessibility, by bridging the gap between public and private, face-to-face and virtual, or formal and informal, modes of communication, and crossing boundaries across the age, gender and ethnic divide. The conference welcomes a wide variety of thematic and multi-disciplinary approaches to hybrid dialogues in various communities of practice social-cultural contexts across time and space.

Keynote speakers

Marina Bondi, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy

Cornelia Ilie, Strömstad Academy, Sweden

Lucy Jones, University of Nottingham, U.K.

Majid KhosraviNik, University of Newcastle, U.K.

Thematic Workshops

• The Cyberdiscourse: A Hybrid of Polarized Stances

Convenors: Andra Vasilescu, Adriana Ştefănescu, and Rodica Zafiu, University of Bucharest, Romania

• Languaging in Lingua Franca Interaction: Beyond the Classroom-Workplace Dichotomy

Convenor: Hiromasa Tanaka, Meisei University, Japan

• Populism and New/Old Media: The ‘Populist Turn’ in Western and Emerging Postcommunist Democracies

Convenor: Daniela Rovenţa-Frumuşani, University of Bucharest, Romania

• Différences, enjeux constants dans la polarisation des idéaux et des comportements: Expérience (2012/2017) d’un groupe pluridisciplinaire en sciences humaines et santé entre 2012 et 2017

Convenors: Mariana Lecarpentier, Direction Générale de l’Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, France and Anne Vega, Université de Nantere, laboratoire Sophiapol

Methodological Workshops

• Critical Discourse Studies and Digital Practices: Theory, Methods and Techniques

Convenor: Eleonora Esposito, University of Navarra, Spain

• Corpus-Based Discourse Analysis: Methodology, Analysis, Interpretation

Convenor: Antonio Fruttaldo, University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’, Italy

• Perspectives on Multimodality: Foundations, Research and Analysis

Convenor: Sole Alba Zollo, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Abstract Submission

We invite submissions of abstracts both for individual paper presentations (20 minutes for presentation, to be followed by 10 minutes for questions) to be scheduled in parallel sessions, and for paper presentations within thematic workshops. The thematic workshop format will be determined by the workshop organisers, taking into consideration the correlation of topics/sub-topics and the number of participants.

All abstracts should include the name, institutional affiliation and email address of the author(s), the paper title, and four-five keywords. The abstract should be approximately 500 words in length.

All abstracts will be peer-reviewed by the conference scientific committee according to the following criteria: originality and/or importance of topic; clarity of research question and purpose; data sources; theoretical approach; analytical focus; relevance of findings if already available. We especially encourage abstract submissions from early-career researchers, including postgraduate research students and postdoctoral researchers.

Email abstract submissions to: estidia2019@gmail.com

Workshop Proposal Submissions

In addition to the already listed workshops, we welcome proposals for further workshops devoted to a topic of relevance to the theme of the conference. Proposals should contain relevant information to enable evaluation on the basis of importance, quality, and expected rate of participation. Each workshop should have one or more designated convenors. Proposals should be 1-2 pages long and include at least the following information:

• • The workshop topic and goals, their significance, and their appropriateness to ESTIDIA 2019;
  • The intended audience, including the research areas from which participants may come, the likely number of participants (with some of their names, if known);
  • Convenors’ details: a description of the main organisers’ research and publication background in the proposed topic; and complete addresses including webpages of the organisers

N.B: The methodological workshops are particularly intended for postgraduate students and early career scholars, whose participation is encouraged. Attendance at the conference methodological workshops is free, but prior booking is essential. There is, however, a limit on the number of places in the methodological workshops – a maximum of 40 people. Registration in advance is required. Please register for the workshops on the conference website.

Email workshop proposal submissions to: estidia2019@gmail.com

Important Dates

• Deadline for workshop proposals                                 20 December 2018
• Early bird registration opens                                        1 January 2019
• Deadline for abstract submission                                25 February 2019
• Notification of acceptance                                              25 March 2019
• Standard Registration opens                                        15 June 2019

Registration fee

The early bird registration fee (by 15 June 2019) is 100 EURO. The late registration fee (after 15 June 2019) is 120 EURO.

A reduced fee of 80 EURO applies to students without a regular salary, retired participants, and persons without a regular income. They also apply to all participants from economically challenged countries.

The conference fee includes the book of abstracts, the conference bag, refreshments/coffee breaks and 2 light lunches.

Please check our Conference website for registration details (bank account, etc.).

Conference website: http://www.unior.it/ricerca/18780/3/5th-estidia-conference-hybrid-dialogues-transcending-binary-thinking-and-moving-away-from-societal-polarizations.html

Contact

Please check the Conference website periodically or send inquiries to: estidia2019@gmail.com