Summer school organised by the European Center of Linguistics (EZS): Historical uncertainties and linguistic constructions. Reports and narrations past from the perspectives of linguistics and literature studies

The European Center for Linguistics (EZS), a co-operation between the Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg and the Institute for German Language Mannheim (IDS), is advertising 35 places for participants at the Summer School „Historical uncertainties and linguistic constructions. Reports and narrations past from the perspectives of linguistics and literature studies”. The Summer School which is kindly supported by the Volkswagen Foundation is taking place at the German Department of the University of Heidelberg from the 28th July – 1st August 2014.

The summer school will focus on the linguistic treatment of historical realities in politically and socially unstable eras, such as the division of Europe after 1945 or during 1914, the year World War I broke out. The historical turning points are reflected symptomatically in the linguistic construction of historical events. This means they can be perceived, detected and analysed from the perspectives of literary studies and linguistics in factual and fictional texts. The hermeneutical pivot are texts, which reveal different perspectives and parallel histories depending on the author and the recipient. These texts are the foundation that connects linguistics and literature studies: (contemporary) history is constructed and received in oral and written sources. Different concepts and perceptions of social and political situations take shape in language and shape language themselves.

The combination of linguistics and literature studies, which we regard as a form of literature linguistics, allows us to find and analyse hidden interferences between modern narrative literature and reports in the media. The focus is on constructions of political, social and
Historical uncertainties and linguistic constructions.

In order to combine methods from linguistic and literature studies, one day of the summer school shall focus on the issues from a practical point of view after a more theoretical approach during the first days: Using the year 1914 as an example for the construction of history, we will examine and discuss different approaches by linguistics and literature studies. This promises to be particularly interesting since the year 2014 will probably see an increase in publications concerning World War I. These could be regarded as part of the construction of history, which means very topical texts could be analysed.

These issues shall be dealt with and discussed by linguists and literary scholars as well as historians and cultural scientists in this interdisciplinary summer school. The complete program as well as the abstracts of each presentation and workshop can be found on the homepage www.sommerschule2014.ezs-online.de

Requirements for participants and application

Applications are directed at young academics in Linguistics and Literature within all philologies preferably working on a research project that is related to the general topic of the Summer School. In order to apply we kindly ask you to send us the following data electronically:
• A short CV (in table form)
• An abstract about the current research project (about 1000 characters)
• A motivational statement
You may also apply for a scholarship (a max. of € 300) or a scholarship for the travel expenses. This should include a short statement giving reasons (e.g raising a child during your PhD, low income).

Please send these documents via email to the administration office (luth@ezs-online.de). Your application should reach us by 23 June 2014 at the latest. The participants will be selected by the Summer School’s hosts and initiators Prof. Dr. Barbara Beßlich (Heidelberg University), Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Ludwig M. Eichinger (IDS Mannheim), Prof. Dr. Ekkehard Felder (Heidelberg University), Prof. Dr. Jörg Riecke (Heidelberg University) in co-operation with the Advisory Board, Prof. Dr. Ulla Fix (Leipzig) and Prof. Dr. Helmuth Kiesel (Heidelberg).

The tuition is 50 euros and it includes all refreshments. You are cordially invited to participate in our welcoming dinner the first evening of the programme. You will be offered assistance in the development of your posters. Payment of tuition should be done latest by July 7th. Further information will be given to successful candidates. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to send us an email (luth@ezs-online.de) or phone us (0049 – 6221 – 543241).