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Running orders

Wednesday 17th June

10.15 Registration & welcome

10.30 Angela Goddard

11.35 Jonathon Green

12.40 Lunch

1.30 – 3.45 (approx) David Crystal

Thursday 18th June

10.15 Registration & welcome

10.30 – 11.30 Workshop 1 (Julie Blake/Jonnie Robinson)

11.40 – 12.40 Workshop 2 (Jonnie Robinson/Julie Blake)

12.40 – 1.45 Lunch

1.45 – 2.45 Presentation 1 – Emma Jackson (texting and literacy)

2.45 – 3.45 Presentation 2 – Mike Thelwall (social networking and language)

The second session

Jonathon Green is one of the world's experts in Anglophone slang. His last book, the Chambers Slang Dictionary, was published in 2008. His major work, the multi-volume dicionary of slang 'on historical principles' is scheduled to appear in 2010. Entitled Green's Dictionary of Slang (On Historical Principles) it offers 125,000 slang words and phrases from across the English-speaking world. It draws on a database of around 575,000 citations, and covers the development of slang since the early 16th century. An online version will follow.

My talk is essentially about the making of that book, but in its topics, on the making of any slang dictionary. I deal with the role of a slang lexicographer, how I see myself and what it is that I do, and with some of the aspects of slang lexicography - etymologies, dating, making a head word list, defining. I aim to show that slang lexicography is like all lexicography but nonetheless challenges the dictionary-maker with certain problems with which the OED, for instance, does not have to concern itself. Above all, I try to show why, despite the general disdain and distrust that slang attracts, it is a legitimate part of the English language, as important as any other.

What's happening...the first session.

Here's a sneak preview of Angela Goddard's talk for the opening session on Wednesday 17th June.

I'll update this blog over the next few days with more info about each speaker, and we'll be emailing all of you have booked places with directions and running orders (which will also appear online here next week).

Metaphors Я Us: How everyday metaphors construct the world we live in.

My talk will focus on how we create worlds from words.

Metaphor is often seen as an elaboration of language use associated with literary texts. I will be arguing against this view and suggesting that metaphor is a very basic form of daily communication that creates a sense of reality for its users.

My research – on computer-mediated communication – has shown that metaphor is a powerful strategy for creating shared worlds. However, that same strategy can act to inhibit alternative interpretations of ‘reality’ and so produce discourses that impact strongly on our personal and social lives.

While the topic of metaphor will have obvious relevance to teachers of English Language, those also teaching English Literature can benefit from re-thinking how other subject areas might view one of English Lit’s basic ‘toolkit’ items. Analysing metaphor can also form an important part of any subject area that concerns itself with different discourses – for example, the Social Sciences, Business Management, etc. Students who can apply their English Language studies to their work in other subject areas gain tremendously in their understanding and confidence as learners.

Professor Angela Goddard works at York St John University as a Head of Subject for Languages and Linguistics. She has worked in every phase of education, teaching and researching aspects of language in use. She has been involved in developing English Language A Level curricula since the beginning of the first course in 1983; she is now Chair of Examiners for AQA’s two English Language A Level Specifications. Angela was awarded a Higher Education Agency National Teaching Fellowship in 2008. She has written many books and articles on language, including writing and editing the Routledge Intertext series, which consist of a core book for language study plus 22 satellite titles on different language topics.