NRG4 :: Third Circular

NEW REFLECTIONS ON GRAMMATICALIZATION 4

Leuven, 16-19 July 2008

MEETING DESCRIPTION

Since the 1980s, grammaticalization has held an important place in linguistic research. Early grammaticalization studies explored morphosyntactic change, building on Lehmann's ([1982] 1995) seminal study on processes and parameters of grammaticalization. This type of grammaticalization mainly focuses on the change of free syntactic units into highly constrained morphemes with a grammatical function. A more recent tradition, initiated by Traugott (1982) and elaborated, for example, in Traugott (1989, 1995, 1996), focuses on semantic-pragmatic change in grammaticalization. Over the last years, three conferences (Potsdam 1999, Amsterdam 2002, Santiago de Compostela 2005) presented reflections on grammaticalization, adducing new evidence --and sometimes counterevidence-- for the concept of grammaticalization.

The purpose of this fourth NRG conference is to bring together innovating papers that explore the boundaries of the current grammaticalization research. As such, in addition to contributions on the 'traditional' areas of grammaticalization, we especially welcome contributions addressing issues in grammaticalization such as:

• Grammaticalization and constructions;
• Grammaticalization and the classification of transitional and gradient linguistic phenomena;
• Micro-processes of grammaticalization;
• Grammaticalization, idiomaticization and lexicalization;
• Grammaticalization and the structure of discourse;
• Grammaticalization and/versus pragmaticalization and (inter-)subjectification;
• Formal(-semantic) approaches to grammaticalization;
• Accounts of degrammaticalization

We are also looking for contributions that address the relationship between grammaticalization and analogy. Furthermore, we are seeking contributions that highlight the importance of such usage-based factors as frequency and entrenchment for grammaticalization, and that, in general, devote attention to quantitative data in support of grammaticalization processes. Finally, we welcome papers on what computer simulations of the evolution/emergence of human communication can tell us about grammaticalization.

CONVENORS

Bert Cornillie (University of Leuven - FWO-Flanders)
Hubert Cuyckens (University of Leuven)
Kristin Davidse (University of Leuven)
Torsten Leuschner (University of Ghent)
Tanja Mortelmans (University of Antwerp)

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Johan van der Auwera (Antwerp), Walter De Mulder (Antwerp), Gabriele Diewald (Hannover), Teresa Fanego (Santiago de Compostela), Bernd Heine (Koln), Brian Joseph (Ohio State, Columbus), Béatrice Lamiroy (Leuven), María José López Couso (Santiago de Compostela), Harry Peridon (Amsterdam), Paolo Ramat (Pavia), Scott Schwenter (Ohio State, Columbus), Elena Seoane (Santiago de Compostela), Anne-Marie Simon-Vandenbergen (Ghent), Elizabeth Traugott (Stanford), Ilse Wischer (Potsdam).

REGISTRATION

Registration will be open from February 1. Registration fees are the following:

The registration fee includes the conference materials, coffee/tea, lunch during the conference days, a conference reception and a guided tour.

PUBLICATION OF PAPERS

It is the organizers' intention to publish a selection of the conference papers in the series Typological Studies in Language (Amsterdam / Philadelphia: John Benjamins).

SOCIAL PROGRAMME

There will be a reception (included in the registration fee) and a conference dinner (EUR 45 for a three-course dinner including aperitif, wine, water, and coffee/tea). Two alternative post-conference excursions, one to Ghent and Antwerp, one to Namur and Dinant, are scheduled for Sunday 20 July. More information will follow soon.

TRANSPORT

Brussels National Airport is located a short distance between Leuven and Brussels . Travelling to and from the airport is easy.

There is a direct train link from Leuven to the airport and from the airport to Leuven or you can take the Airport City Express to Brussels . Schedules for these lines, as well as for train service throughout the whole of Belgium (and international trains), are available on the Belgian National Railways (SNCB/NMBS) website; enter Brussels Airport as the departure or destination station.

The airport of Charleroi (also, somewhat misleadingly, called 'Brussels South Airport') is served by Ryan Air, and is about two hours from Leuven by public transport.

IMPORTANT DATES