Constructed Languages and Power in Science Fiction and Fantasy

deadline for submissions: 
August 15, 2022
full name / name of organization: 
Matt Barton

We have extended our deadline for submissions.

We invite essays for a collected edition that investigates constructed languages (e.g., Klingon, Trigedasleng, Valyrian, Na'vi, Dothraki, Belter, Tolkien's Elvish) in the contexts and functions of socio-political power within the broad category of science fiction, speculative, and fantasy encompassing film, tv, games, and comics. How are conlangs in a work used to "other" groups of people or to construct their subjectivity? How do they reveal power relations in a geo-political system? How does the analysis of conlangs and power help us understand the world that we live in?

Please send queries and 350-500 word proposals to conlangpowerbook@gmail.com by August 15, 2022. Contributors will be notified before the end of September. We will begin evaluating the 5000-7500-word essays as soon as possible. The essays will be due on January 15, 2023. 

Possible topics must include constructed languages, power, and

  • Race, gender, sexuality, ability, or gender identity

  • Postcolonial

  • Marginality

  • Hybridity

  • Rhetoric

  • Transmedia

  • Semiotics

  • Intercultural Communication

  • Philosophy

  • Popular Culture

  • Sociology

  • Subjectivity

  • Socio-linguistics, Racio-linguistics

  • Fandoms

  • Agency

  • Belonging

Matt Barton, Lead Editor

Department of English

St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud, MN, USA

conlangpowerbook@gmail.com

Accepted essays will be published in an edited collection. Please submit 350-500 word proposals for essays of 5000-7500 words. Any questions should be addressed to conlangpowerbook@gmail.com