Keynote speakers

The following keynote speakers have already confirmed their participation:

Walter Daelemans (University of Antwerp, Belgium)

Leon de Stadler (University of Stellenbosch)

Paul Foulkes (University of York, U.K.)

Diane Larsen-Freeman (University of Michigan, U.S.A.)

Albert Weideman (University of Pretoria)

Themes

In keeping with our traditions, papers on any topic within the fields of applied linguistics, language teaching and linguistics are welcome.  The broad theme we would like participants to consider when developing their ideas is:

A more detailed exposition can be found on the conference website.

Papers are scheduled for 35 minute slots, with 25 minutes for the presentation and 10 minutes for discussion.

In addition, a wide range of specific theme sessions are planned for the conference.  If you are interested in participating in any of these sessions, submit your abstract via the regular route to the conference organiser, but also indicate the theme session in which you would prefer to be accommodated.

The theme sessions are:

• African Languages and Academic Discourse
• The assessment of academic literacy of additional languages (as media of instruction)
• Computational linguistics, including CALL and Machine Translation
• Foreign language learning and teaching: a dying species?
• Descriptive and theoretical Afrikaans studies
• Interpreting services for higher education purposes
• Language contact, identity and choice
• Language policy, Language planning and Language Management
• Language Practice
• Language Rights
• Materials Development
• Multilingualism as it relates to linguistic creativity, attitudes and values (identity), and miscommunication
• Promoting the learning of indigenous languages (including Afrikaans)
• Socio-phonetics
• The survival of the Humanities in tertiary education - ways and means

Dates

Deadline for abstracts for presentations: 9 March 2007

Notification: 30 March 2007

Deadline for early registration: 4 May 2007

Final registration deadline: 8 June 2007

Pre-conference workshops: 2-3 July 2007

Main conference: 4-6 July 2007

Languages and interpreting

The Vice-Chancellor of the North-West University, Dr. Theuns Eloff, has generously agreed to sponsor a simultaneous interpreting service for the conference.  Within practical constraints, we would like to encourage participants to present in the language of their choice, and will try to make interpreting available for that session.  Please indicate the language in which you would prefer to present when submitting your abstract.

Accommodation and transport

Participants who require transport from the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Potchefstroom and back, must indicate so on their registration forms.  Transport will be provided on Sunday afternoon 1 July for participants attending the pre-conference workshops, and on Tuesday 3 July for the main conference, with return trips on Friday afternoon 6 July and Saturday morning 7 July.  Please ensure that your flight arrives no later than 17:00 on Sunday (1/7) or Tuesday (3/7), and do not book flights that leave earlier than 17:00 on Friday (6/7).  There is a conference fee option that includes transport.  Otherwise, participants are encouraged to rent cars in Johannesburg and drive to Potchefstroom.  Relevant information will be provided on the conference website, but feel free to contact the organisers if more information is required.

Participants are responsible for their own accommodation arrangements.  Details of guest houses and selected hotels are available on the conference website, and can also be e-mailed to participants on request.  Participants wishing to make use of the budget accommodation option of the De Klerk Gastehuis on campus, should indicate so on their registration forms, and include payment for that with their conference fees.  Please note that no breakfast is served, but the campus cafeteria will be open during the conference.

Conference fees and payment

The basic conference fee is set at R750.  This includes all lunches during the conference, morning and afternoon refreshments, and the conference dinner, which enjoys a generous sponsorship from the Rector of the Potchefstroom Campus, Prof. Annette Combrink.

Additional fees:

• Transport from and back to the airport: R150
• Late registration (after 4 May 2007): R100
• Accommodation in De Klerk Gastehuis: R90/night

Conference fees should be paid following the instructions on the website and registration form.  Please fax the payment slip to Teresa Smit. The payment notification can also be e-mailed automatically (if you have selected this option) by your bank for those making electronic payments to Teresa Smit, please see below for details.

Contact persons and information

Submission of abstracts and programming issues:

Bertus van Rooy (Bertus.vanRooy@nwu.ac.za) / 018 299 1487

General inquiries, transport, accommodation, and registration:

Sabrina Raaff (20226209@student.nwu.ac.za)

Payment:

Teresa Smit (Teresa.smit@nwu.ac.za)

018 299 1485 (phone) and 018 299 1562 (fax)