12th Conference on Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research

TISLR 12 invites unpublished research from any theoretical perspective that addresses sign languages. Presentations and poster sessions will be included on such topics as:

• phonetics and phonology of sign languages

• lexicology of sign languages

• morphology of sign languages

• syntax of sign languages

• sign language discourse

• semantics and pragmatics of sign languages

• historical sign language linguistics, including sign language emergence

• sign language acquisition as a first, second or additional language

• sociolinguistic variation and change in sign languages

• contact between sign languages and spoken languages

• neuroscience and sign languages

• psycholinguistics of sign languages

• sign language ‘literature’ and performance (e.g., poetry)

• computational modelling, recognition and synthesis, of sign languages

• sign language documentation

• corpus linguistics of sign languages

• sign language planning and policy

• the relationship between sign languages and gesture

The programme will have no parallel sessions, with 50-60 presentations over four days. The majority of papers (possibly over 100) will be accepted for poster sessions.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr. Robert Adam (University College London)

Prof. Nick Enfield (University of Sydney/Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics)

SUBMISSION OF PAPERS

Prospective authors are invited to submit an abstract, up to 500 words (+ 1 optional page of references, examples, and/or figures if necessary) by 28th February 2015. Notification will occur by late March 2015.

All abstracts will be handled and reviewed electronically via EasyChair. You will need to set up an Easy Chair account (if you do not already have one) before you login for your submission.

When completing the submission form on EasyChair, you will see a space which  asks for an abstract to be typed in. You may also upload the abstract as a PDF, Microsoft Word or plain text document if you wish. You should receive confirmation of submission of your paper from EasyChair immediately after submission by email; if you have not, please check your spam folder.

NOTE: To facilitate interpreter planning, please indicate AFTER THE TITLE of your paper which language you will present in if your abstract is accepted: Auslan; ASL; International Sign; English.

The submission form in EasyChair also asks you:

- whether you prefer a presentation/paper or a poster (note that the final decision will be taken by the local organizing committee based on recommendations from the scientific committee)

- whether you want to be considered for best early career submission prize (you are eligible to be considered if you are a student or within 3 years of earning your PhD, and are first author on the submitted abstract)

- which of the conference topic(s) your paper relates to (NOTE: to facilitate the review process, make sure you select at least one topic though you may select more than one)

- to include any keywords that do not appear in the topics list that may facilitate the review process

Abstracts should include a (1) clear statement of the theoretical issue to be addressed, (2) an explanation of the research methodology to be presented, and (3) a concise summary of the research findings/conclusion. These three criteria will be used by the scientific committee when reviewing your abstract, so make sure your submission addresses them. Work must be unpublished at time of presentation. There is a maximum of 3 submissions per author, either as single author or joint co-author.

For information: http://www.tislr12.org