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Journal for Literary Multilingualism

Due Date: 04-15-2021

Literary multilingualism studies is a relatively new but burgeoning area of research. With the impact of translation studies, the “transnational turn” within literary studies, and the growing relevance of the “postmonolingual condition” in the contemporary world, multilingual and translingual writing practices—considered exceptional and unusual in the past—are now at the forefront of literary studies.

For the inaugural issue of the Journal for Literary Multilingualism we invite scholars to engage in a dynamic assessment of the field and its future. What are the key questions and debates at stake in literary multilingualism studies? What terminology is essential to the study of literary multilingualism, and how do we define those terms? What future directions does the field need to take? We also invite provocations and critiques of literary multilingualism studies thus far: what are its absences and blind spots? Which aspects of literary multilingualism have been neglected?

We particularly welcome explorations of the following topics:

  • Which concepts of language and of linguistic diversity can be of use for the study of literary multilingualism? What are the advantages and disadvantages of terms such as translingual, multilingual, monolingual paradigm, heteroglossia, born translated, etc. Does any new terminology need to be developed?
  • What interdisciplinary possibilities are there between linguistics and literary scholarship? What is the potential influence of concepts such as code-switching, mixed languages, translanguaging, glossodiversity/semiodiversity, etc. on literary multilingualism studies?
  • How can scholarship in literary multilingualism do justice to the enormous diversity of forms of multilingualism and the different ideologies of language that have developed at different points in history and in different parts of the globe?
  • What are the objects of literary multilingualism research (e.g., multilingual texts, translingual authors, institutions such as the publishing industry, etc.)? Are there particular forms of literary multilingualism that have hitherto been neglected?
  • What are the scholarly, cultural, and political objectives of literary multilingualism studies? What impact does literary multilingualism studies have (or need to have) on literary studies more generally?

We welcome informal queries, and potential contributors may submit an abstract by 31 October 2021 if they wish to receive initial feedback on their topic. Direct queries to Juliette Taylor-Batty (j.taylor-batty@leedstrinity.ac.uk) and Till Dembeck (till.dembeck@uni.lu). The final deadline for the submission of articles of 6,000–10,000 words is 15 April 2022. Acceptance of the final articles is subject to double-blind peer review. Please send articles as e-mail attachments to Dembeck (till.dembeck@uni.lu).