STAL organizes a monthly seminar on issues related to the study of slurs, pejoratives, and evaluative and expressive terms in general, from less studied languages.

In the academic year 2023-2024, the meetings take place on

TUESDAYS, 14:30-16:00 Central European Time (CET).

The next seminar is:

MAY 21

Víctor Carranza-Pinedo (University of Münster)

"Language Dynamics in Close Quarters: The Function of Pejorative Nicknames"

Abstract:

This presentation focuses on pejorative nicknames, in particular within closely-knit social settings such as villages, households, and schools. Drawing from ethnological and psychological studies on nicknaming and name-calling practices, the presentation aims at showing the shared functional and structural attributes between pejorative nicknames and slurs. Through an examination of the control mechanisms embedded in both phenomena, this exploration suggests that pejorative nicknames serve as tools to foster intra-groups hierarchies, mirroring the role of slurs within a smaller scale. By doing so, this presentation aims at directing attention on how linguistic dynamics within smaller speech-act communities can enhance our comprehension of the derogatory impact of slurs in more intricate social contexts.

Full schedule:

OCTOBER 31, 2023

Philippe Schlenker (Institut Jean Nicod/New York University), based on joint work with Jason Lamberton (Gallaudet University) and Jonathan Lamberton

"The Projection of Slurs in ASL: A First Look"

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

Teresa Marques (University of Barcelona)

"Cross-linguistic Disagreement about Derogatory Words"

FEBRUARY 6, 2024

María Bibiloni (University of Aberdeen)

"Idealization and Epistemic Power in Theories of Slurs"

MARCH 5, 2024

Eleonora Orlando & Andrés Saab (CONICET/IIF-SADAF & University of Buenos Aires)

"Slurs: A Syntactically Grounded Ambiguity"

APRIL 9, 2024

Constant Bonard (University of Bern)

"What and How Slurs Mean: An Empirical Investigation"

MAY 21, 2024

Víctor Carranza-Pinedo (University of Münster)

"Language Dynamics in Close Quarters: The Function of Pejorative Nicknames"

JUNE 4, 2024

Starr Sandoval (University of British Columbia)

"Non-speaker-oriented Expressives in Ktunaxa and English"