About the Conference

    Research Centre for Multilingualism of the Research Institute for Linguistics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (http://www.nytud.hu/eng/index.html) in collaboration with the Mercator Network of Language Diversity Centres and the European Commission is pleased to announce the first international conference titled “Multilingualism in Europe: prospects and practices in East-Central Europe”. The conference will be held on 25th–26th March, 2011, in Budapest. The venue is Hotel Benczúr (http://www.hotelbenczur.hu/en).

    In the era of globalisation, transnationalism and new communication technologies, permanent mobility, economic instability and changes in the socioeconomic status and qualification of citizens, rapid changes in international and national legislation, the advancing role of civil society, the functional decline of smaller or lesser used languages is faster than it has ever been, while new forms and meanings of multilingualism and linguistic diversity have emerged. In contempt of EU, EC and EP recommendations, language policies, their implementations, practices, and legal regulations vary greatly from country to country in Europe. The accession of the new Central and Eastern European member states opened up new prospects, at the same time creating new problems for the enlarged EU with regard to protection of linguistic diversity and otherness maintaining and enriching smaller or lesser used languages with “minority”, “regional”, “immigrant”, “community”, “other” or “additional” labels. In the new member states after the fall of the communist regime subsequent governments worked on implementing fundamental changes in the political, economic and educational system, however, main themes of language policy (e.g. minority education, the teaching and learning of foreign languages etc.) are issues still rich in controversies.

    It seems indispensable to rethink the concepts, theories and practices of multilingualism as well as approaches to linguistic diversity in Europe, initiating a new international platform where researchers, language educators, policy-makers and other actors can evaluate the progress and future needs in the area of protection of smaller or lesser used spoken and signed languages, the role of mother tongues and the development of new multilingual skills at local and regional levels. Main themes of the conference are closely related to the principles of the framework strategy on multilingualism (cf. OM(2005) 596, SEC(2008) 2443, COM(2008) 566), and objectives of EU 2020 under the auspices of the Hungarian EU presidency.

    Keynotes, paper sessions, workshops and roundtables in eight thematic panels will cover the most critical questions of linguistic, educational, legal, economic, ideological and policy issues associated with language diversity and multilingualism by means of multidisciplinarity and comparability:

    1) Multilingualism and linguistic diversity: language ideologies, discourses and policies in Europe
    2) Legal provisions of minority/regional languages: the ECRML regime in theory and practice
    3) Bi-/multilingual education and Europe’s additional languages: examples of good practice
    4) Sign language planning and policies: Sign language communities and the case for linguistic human rights and citizenship
    5) Researching multilingual communities
    6) Language Rich Europe: multilingualism for stable and prosperous societies
    7) Roma communities and their languages in Europe
    8) Migration and the multilingual economy

    The two-day conference provides an excellent opportunity for real-life dialogues between researchers, citizens, civil sector representatives and politicians at national, regional and EU level, contributing to the integration of regional developments into a common European Research Area, thus increasing effective use of discourse and deliberation in policy formulation and research.

    Registration

    Registration has been closed.

    Call for Papers

    In order to increase exchanges between actors involved in different domains of multilingualism, conference committee welcomes contributions from the academic, practitioner, political, civil sphere, business and media. Proposals are invited in two main formats: individual papers and posters. Exhibitions and product demonstrations based on the main themes are also invited.

    Proposals for individual papers, posters

    Please submit by e-mail a one-page 450-word abstract of your paper or poster. All abstracts will be reviewed anonymously by the members of the Academic Committee. Please include the following details with your submission: full name and title; professional affiliation; e-mail address; title of the presentation; specific requirements for presentation. At the time of submission you will be asked whether you would like your abstract to be considered for a poster, a paper, or both. Oral papers will be allotted 20 minutes. Posters will be on display for a full day with two attended sessions during the day. The deadline to submit proposals for individual papers and posters is February 20, 2011. All abstracts should be sent to: info [AT] multling.eu. Acknowledgment of receipt of the abstract will be sent by email as soon as possible after receipt. Notification will be given by February 28, 2011.

    Proposals for exhibition, product demonstration

    If you would like to exhibit and/or demonstrate a product or new technology at the conference, for more detailed information please contact directly info [AT] multling.eu

    Publication opportunity

    Papers accepted for the conference will be published in the conference proceedings.

    Keynote Speakers

    Professor Sangeeta BAGGA-GUPTA, Vrebo University, Sweden

    Professor Guus EXTRA, Tilburg University, the Netherlands

    dr. Kinga GÁL, European Parliament, Hungary

    Livia JÁRÓKA, European Parliament, Hungary

    Professor Gabor PROSZEKY, Pazmany Peter Catholic University; MorphoLogic, Hungary

    Mag. Dr. Phil. Barbara SCHRAMMEL, University of Graz, Austria

    Professor Teresa TINSLEY, National Centre for Languages, UK

    Prof. Michal VASECKA, Masaryk University, Czech Republic

    Professor Sue WRIGHT, University of Portsmouth, UK

    Session keynote and invited speakers:

    György ANDRÁSSY
    Is it possible to eliminate certain paradigm anomalies from international language law?

    Mária BERÉNYI
    The role of the Research Institute of Hungarian Romanians in the maintenance of community identity

    Anna BORBÉLY
    Comparative sociolinguistic research in Hungarian minority communities: Practices and prospects

    Ewa CHYLINSKI
    Enhancing minority languages in Europe: European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages - impact and challenges

    István CSERNICSKÓ
    The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and Ukraine

    Jeroen DARQUENNES
    Multilingualism and linguistic diversity in the European Commission's language policy discourse

    Ewa DOMAGALA-ZYSK
    Deaf and Multilingual. Teaching English as a foreign language to the deaf students in Europe

    Franz DOTTER
    Sign languages and their communities now and in the future

    Viktor ELSÍK
    The Romani language in Slovakia: an overview

    Steven EMERY - Sarah BATTERBURY
    Realising social and language justice: utilising policy in the case of Sign Language Peoples

    Maria ERB
    Research and Teacher Training Centre of Hungarian Germans: practices and prospects

    Margit FEISCHMIDT
    Cultural differences in school - The experiences of the EDUMIGROM research, with special attention to the research results of East-Central Europe

    Jelena FILIPOVIÆ
    Language education policies and the education of Roma in Serbia

    Gabrielle HOGAN-BRUN
    Dealing with language diversity in Europe: approaches from above and from below/

    István HORVÁTH
    Toward a new linguistic order? Changes of language policies and linguistic ideologies in the CEE region

    Tímea IGNÁCZ
    Gypsy children in school: The case of Boyash language

    Gábor KARDOS
    Some lessons of implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

    Krisztina KÁROLY
    Multilingualism and discourse practices: The problem of generic identity in translation

    Vera KLOPÈIÈ
    European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and protection of Roma language(s) in Europe

    Edit H. KONTRA
    Foreign language classes for Deaf adults

    dr. Ádám KÓSA
    Member of the European Parliament, Chair, Disability Intergroup

    Anna KOVÁCS
    Two decades of the Hungarian Slovak Research Institute

    Szilvia LAKATOS
    An overview of Romani education in Hungary

    Nguyen LAN ANH-János GORDON GYÕRI
    Language, acculturation, identity and ethno-cultural continuity among Vietnamese families in Hungary

    Orsolya NÁDOR
    Language ideologies in the background of mono-, bi- and multilingualism

    Ulrike PAWLATA
    Romani Teaching in Europe - The Qualirom Project

    Meilute; RAMONIENE;
    New Multilingualism in Lithuania

    Nóra L. RITÓK
    Opportunity and identity of Roma children living in deep poverty

    Pilar RODRIGUEZ RAMOS
    GAUDEM - A unique project

    Trude SCHERMER
    Sign Language planning and politics in the Netherlands

    Patty SHORES
    Sign languages in Switzerland from the academic, civil and political perspectives

    Endre SÍK
    Language use and identity among national minorities along the Eastern border of the EU

    Gizella SZABÓMIHÁLY
    The implementation of the ECRML in Slovakia

    Ritva TAKKINEN
    Sign language legislation, sign language use and the education of the Deaf in Finland

    Mihály TÓTH
    Possibilities and limits of exercising language rights in Ukraine

    Ildikó VANÈO KREMMER
    Necessity and the role of education in preserving minority
    languages

    Dr. Tamás VÁRADI
    iTranslate4 Europe

    Arnfinn Muruvik VONEN
    Sign language communities and spoken language minority communities - a comparison with respect to language policy

    Mark WHEATLEY - Ádám KÓSA
    Sign Language Legislation in Europe: A tool to achieve equal (linguistic) human rights

    Invited experts:

    Pawel POSZYTEK,
    Péter MEDGYES
    Elin Haf Gruffydd JONES
    Slavomir ONDREJOVIÈ
    István HORVÁTH
    Bernat JOAN I MARÍ
    Koloman BRENNER
    Erzsébet SZALAY SÁNDOR
    István BLAZSETIN
    Vangelio CARUHA
    Anna GYIVICSÁN
    Otto HEINEK
    Mihály HEPP
    János HIDAS
    Erzsébet HORNOKNÉ UHRIN
    István KRASZLÁN
    Anna KOVÁCS
    Szvetla KJOSZEVA,
    Pero LÁSZTITY
    Marianna LYAVINECZ
    Krisztina MENYHÁRT
    Emília NAGYNÉ MARTYIN
    Anton PAULIK
    Edit TAKÁCS
    Tünde TUSKA
    Gergely TAPOLCZAI
    Bori BALOGH
    Gábor DARÓCZI
    Melinda RÉZMÛVES
    Ludmilla NAGY
    Lajos KATHY-HORVÁTH
    László LAKATOS

    Pre-Conference Mercator Workshop

    Under construction

    Travel and Accommodation

    Conference venue
    Hotel Benczúr http://www.hotelbenczur.hu/en

    Directions:
    ROUTE PLANNING:
    http://www.utvonalterv.hu
    http://utvonal.bkv.hu

    From Distance (km) Time (vehicle)
    Bp. Nyugati pu. (Western Railway Station) 3 15 (M3 then M2 metro)
    Bp. Keleti pu. (Eastern Railway Station) 2,6 10 (car) 15 (M2 then M1 metro)
    Bp. Déli pu. (Southern Railway Station) 6 25 (M2 then M1 metro)
    Ferihegyi Airport 25 50 (car)
    International Coach Station 3 15 (car) 30 (M3 then M1-es metro)
    Nearest metro station (M1, Bajza utca) 0,3 3 (on foot)
    City entre 4 15 (M1 metro)

    MAP


    View larger map

    Address:
    H-1068 Budapest, Benczúr utca 35.
    HUNGARY
    Phone: (361) 479-5662
    There is a projector and a laptop available in every lecture room. Both Wifi and computers with internet-connection are available.

    ACADEMIC COMMITTEE

    Dr. habil Csilla Bartha
    (Chair; Research Centre for Multilingualism, RIL HAS and Eötvös Loránd University)

    Dr. Anna Borbély
    (Research Institute for Linguistics, HAS)

    Dr. István Csernicskó
    (II. Ferenc Rákóczi Teacher Training College, Berehovo, Ukraine)

    Prof. Slavomír Ondrejovič
    (Ľudovít Štúr Institute of Linguistics, SAS, Slovakia)

    Dr. Viktor Elšík
    (Charles University, Prague)

    Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones
    (Mercator Media Centre, Aberystwyth University, Wales)

    Prof. Dieter W. Halwachs
    (University of Graz, Centre for Language, Plurilingualism & Language teaching)

    Prof. Gabrielle Hogan-Brun
    (University of Bristol, England and University of Basel, Switzerland)

    Dr. Ádám Kósa
    (MP, European Parliament and Hungarian Deaf Association)

    Dr. Pia Lane
    (University of Oslo, Norway)

    Dr. Cor van der Meer
    (Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning, Fryske Akademy, Leeuwarden)

    Prof. Gábor Prószéky
    (Pázmány Péter Catholic University, MorphoLogic, Budapest)

    ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

    Dr. habil Csilla Bartha
    (Research Centre for Multilingualism, RIL HAS, ELTE)

    Dr. Helga Hattyár
    (Research Centre for Multilingualism, RIL HAS, ELTE)

    Dr. Ágnes Hámori
    (Research Centre for Multilingualism, RIL HAS)

    Gabriella Kovács
    (Research Centre for Multilingualism, RIL HAS)

    Alíz Balogh
    (Research Centre for Multilingualism, RIL HAS)

    Dr. Noémi Nagy
    (Research Centre for Multilingualism, RIL HAS)

    Ágota Bíró
    (British Council, Hungary)

    Zsuzsa Habán
    (Hungarian Deaf Association)

    Beáta Jancsi
    (Budapest Field Officer, European Commission, Directorate-General for Translation)

    Dr. Balázs Vizi
    (Research Institute of National and Ethnic Minorities, HAS)

    Dr. Orsolya Nádor
    (Károli Gáspár University of the Hungarian Reformed Church, Budapest)

    Supporting Institutions and Partners

    News and Information

    Poster information: The size of the display panels for the poster: width 68 cm, heigth 148 cm.

    Venue:
    http://www.budapestinfo.hu

    Weather:
    http://koponyeg.hu

    Conference venue
    Hotel Benczúr http://www.hotelbenczur.hu/en

    Directions:
    ROUTE PLANNING:
    http://www.utvonalterv.hu
    http://utvonal.bkv.hu

    From Distance (km) Time (vehicle)
    Bp. Nyugati pu. (Western Railway Station) 3 15 (M3 then M2 metro)
    Bp. Keleti pu. (Eastern Railway Station) 2,6 10 (car) 15 (M2 then M1 metro)
    Bp. Déli pu. (Southern Railway Station) 6 25 (M2 then M1 metro)
    Ferihegyi Airport 25 50 (car)
    International Coach Station 3 15 (car) 30 (M3 then M1-es metro)
    Nearest metro station (M1, Bajza utca) 0,3 3 (on foot)
    City entre 4 15 (M1 metro)

    MAP


    View larger map

    Address:
    H-1068 Budapest, Benczúr utca 35.
    HUNGARY
    Phone: (361) 479-5662
    There is a projector and a laptop available in every lecture room. Both Wifi and computers with internet-connection are available.

    Contact Details

    info@multling.eu

    Address:

    Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Research Institute for Linguistics
    H-1068 Budapest, Benczúr u. 33.
    Hungary
    phone: +36-1-321-4830