Creative Philology: Studies in Speculative Fiction: A Tribute to J. R. R. Tolkien
Due Date: 07-31-2023
Signum University Press is pleased to announce a call for papers on philology for an anthology in honor of J. R. R. Tolkien, to be edited by Carl Edlund Anderson and Larry Swain. Philology may be understood as the study of people through their language(s) or texts. Typically, such study focuses on the speech communities of real, historical peoples. Considering the special status of Tolkien as an “applied philologist,” who transformed the traditional tools of academic philology for creative purposes, this volume likewise extends the notion of philology to the study of imaginary peoples through their imaginary languages or texts. We may also examine the work of their creators with the intention of highlighting how philology transcends traditional circumscriptions to remain a potent approach to understanding not only historical and present human communities but also creative artists who work with notions of language and their creations.
We welcome proposals by experienced or emerging scholars, of all backgrounds, and extend the friendliest invitation to those who come from traditionally underrepresented groups. Interested contributors should submit a 500-word abstract, in English, by 31 July 2023 to press@signumu.org on the following or related topics:
- What the study of historical languages or texts reveal about historical human cultures associated with those languages or texts.
- What the study of constructed languages or texts reveal about fictional human cultures associated with those languages or texts or their creators.
- The teaching and learning of historical premodern languages or of languages constructed for fictional settings.
- The implicit or explicit role, place, or impact of philology and philological awareness in public life and popular culture.
Our first consideration is always the quality of the composition. The writing must be technically flawless, the scholarship rigorous, the analysis thorough, the ideas brave and boldly followed to their conclusions. Works in this category will undergo peer review. Once selections have been made, essays should be submitted by 30 April 2024, and have a maximum length of 5,000 to 10,000 words (including notes and citations), in MLA style.
Revisions and peer review will follow. The finalized chapters will be gathered into a collection to be published in various formats (ebook, audiobook, and printed codex) and marketed to mainstream channels, including research university libraries.