An International Conference on “SOCIETY, LITERATURE & MULTILINGUALISM ” to be held on 16th and 17th December 2016 in Pune, India.

Language has been the first sign of human evolution. Looking at our journey from pictorial symbols to the diverse multingual society we live in today, language forms an important anchor in this development. 

Language has marked our progress as a civilization. Today, the world is coming closerand distances are getting shorter. Globalization, cultural openness, increased interaction
and proliferation of the internet has made multilingualism the norm, to the extent that studies show that multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers today.

Multilingualism has repeatedly highlighted its importance in our cognitive as well as social lives. Increasing comprehension and grasping abilities of children to delaying the onset of cognitive diseases like dementia in adults, multilingualism has proven to make our brain functions more flexible, almost like a ‘brain gym’. 

Socially, its impacts are even more far-reaching. Studies show that understanding another language competently makes us sensitive to perspectives other than our own, creating within society values of increased tolerance and harmony. 

Bhaashaa Foundation’s objective of preservation of regional language is fundamentally in tune with the creation of an enriched, multilingual, culturally aware and aesthetically evolved society.

Over the past eight years, Bhaashaa’s work has connected academic discussions,professional interactions and brainstorming with implementation and action at the grassroots level. This international conference aims to gain a perspective on the position of multilingualism in the world, and explore its meaning and need in global lives today.

Calling on scholars, academics, practitioners, performers and artists from India and abroad, this conference presents a unique opportunity to situate this conversation in India— a country which is inherently multilingual. We also welcome inputs from counsellors, psychologists, practitioners.
This conference aims to get a better understanding of what multilingualism is— its advantages, possible pitfalls in living in a multilingual world, and how that interacts on a cognitive as well as a social level.

THEMES FOR RESEARCH PAPERS:
Participants may submit papers around following themes or any relevant topic:
Papers in the conference revolve around four basic themes.

1. Multilingualism : Theory and praxis

a. What is Multilingualism?
b. Processing Multilingualism in our brains
c. Bilingualism
d. Multilingualism : Academic / natural circumstantial
f. Multilingualism competence
g. Canon formation in a Multilingualism world
h. Conceptual and methodological challenges to Multilingualism
i. Semiotics and Multilingualism
j. Rare languages and Multilingualism

2. Cognitive aspects of multilingualism

a. Cognitive processing of multiple languages.
b. Psycho - linguistic approaches to Multilingualism.
c. Cognitive and natural aspects of languages at societal level.
d. Multilingualism teaching in adult and children.
e. Multilingualism in child development.
f. Neuro - science and multilingualism.
g. Psycho - linguistic approaches to Multilingualism.

3. Society and Multilingualism

a. Socio - linguistic approaches to Multilingualism.
b. Context , society and culture
c. Multilingualism and language policy
d. Language, society and politics
e. Multilingualism : Relationships between individuals and
communities 
f. Multilingualism and power relations
g. Pluralism and multiculturalism
h. Multilingualism and multiculturalism in contemporary India.
i. Ethnicity and Multilingualism
j. Regional and immigrant minority language
k. Performing for a multilingual audience 

4. Multilingualism in literature

a. Vernacular and national literature
b. Unity and diversity in Indian Literature
c. Global vs local in a multilingual world
d. Role of translation in multilingual market.
e. Publishing in a Multilingual World
Within this section, a special session with a focus on children’s literature will be
organized, with papers on the following theme along with other aspects of children’s
Literature are welcome:
a. Children's literature in a multilingual society.
b. Writing for global children
c. Translation for children: Need and Challenges 

SUBMISSIONS OF ABSTRACTS:
The deadline for receiving abstracts of the research papers is 5th October 2016.

PUBLICATION OF PAPERS:
After the conference, selected papers will be published in an e-journal with a valid ISSN
number.

REGISTRATION:
The registration fee for the academic conference is:
For Indian Nationals: Rs. 2000 for all participants
For students: Rs. 1500
For International Participants: $100
Bhaashaa will provide participants with a conference kit, tea and lunch on the days of the conference.
Participants will get a wonderful opportunity to attend the various colorful festivities that are part of “Katha Yatra”- which has become widely popular as India’s largest story festival- in the evenings after the conference.

Please contact conference.bhaashaa@gmail.com for more details.