A.Krymsky Institute of Oriental Studies, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is pleased to announce the 1st International Conference «Endangered languages: Crimean Tatar and other Turkic languages in Ukraine», which will be held at A. Krymsky Institute of Oriental Studies in Kyiv, Ukraine on September 26-27, 2014.

 

There is consensus among scholars that endangered languages need protection and promotion. All of the Turkic languages in Ukraine (Crimean Tatar, Gagauz, Karaim, Krymchak, Urum) are endangered, notably they are at risk of extinction in the short or in the long terms. According to UNESCO’s “Atlas of Endangered Languages” the degree of their vitality varies from definitely endangered (Gagauz) to extinct (Karaim). The most demographically sizeable Crimean Tatars considered as severely endangered since it is spoken mainly by older generation.

 

The conference aims to analyze language policies and educational practices towards the languages in danger as well as to raise awareness of endangered languages in Ukraine in the context of language diversity in Europe. It also aims to provide an international forum to discuss the issues of language planning and language shift including expected cultural and cognitive consequences of language loss.  The issues will be explored from different perspectives: sociolinguistics, sociology of language, language contact, language acquisition, language documentation.

 

Possible topics of paper proposals include, but are not limited to:

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  • Theoretical and practical approaches to endangered languages

  • Turkic languages in Ukraine: their state and status

  • Turkic languages as minority languages in the context of different language situations (case studies)

  • Interrelations between majority languages and minority indigenous languages

  • Romantic vs. rationalist language policy models: the different approaches to language protection

  • Theory and practice of language revitalization

  • Language identity and language ideologies

  • The educational policy (multi/bilingual language education, teacher training)

  • Corpus planning for languages in danger (orthography, dictionaries, grammars)

  • Conceptual metaphors in the study of endangered Turkic languages

 

Deadline for abstracts: 1 July, 2014; size up to 300 words

Participation in the conference is free of charge

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Presentations will be 20 minutes long, with 10 minutes for discussion. Participants could register for the conference, using the registration form.

 

Working languages: English, Ukrainian

Presentations in Crimean Tatar, Gagauz and Turkish are also welcome.

Simultaneous translation to and from English will be provided.

Accommodation and transportation expenses will be covered for a selected number of Crimean Tatar and other Turkic linguists based in Ukraine. Meals and coffee breaks during the conference hours will be provided.

 

 

Conference program is available for download in .docx and .pdf format:

 

 

Important dates:

• July 1, 2014  – deadline for abstract submission

• July 15, 2014 – notification of acceptance 

• September 25–26, 2014 – arrival

• September 26–27, 2014 – conference

• September 27, 2014 – academic tour (optional), departure

• October 27, 2014 – deadline for full paper submission

 

 

 

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