CALL FOR PAPERS

for a special issue of

Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies

focusing on

LANGUAGE AND GENDER IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Following the interest shown in the recent 'language and gender' issue
of SALALS (Volume 20/3, 2002), a team of colleagues from the
University of KwaZulu-Natal will be producing a follow-up volume, to
be published in 2006. This is within the context of an NRF-funded
research project on language, gender and equity in South Africa,
currently running at UKZN. This team project has three main sections:
expanded language resources of multilingual contexts and its use to
construct shifting gender identities; masculinities and femininities
in relation to language usage in schools; gender aspects of South
Africa's indigenous languages (with a focus on issues of heritage and
culture).

In the contemporary context, the existence of a variety of social
identities creates new contexts for the interface between language and
gender. This Special Issue calls for interdisciplinary papers that
provide fresh insights into 'Language and Gender in Southern Africa'.
The journal seeks manuscripts from the broadest possible
methodological range that interpret the special focus on 'Language and
Gender in Southern Africa'. Empirical and theoretical articles
reporting original research as well as research reviews are
encouraged. The editors also welcome research in languages other than
English.

We are interested in new directions in language and gender, which are
guided by the new contexts of research. The editors invite papers
addressing any aspect of this broad area, covering substantive but
also methodological issues of importance. As a guide, some of the
following issues could be addressed in papers with special reference
to language-related issues and gender: law; human rights; equity;
identities; sexuality; citizenship; HIV/Aids and public health;
stereotypes; variation in language; pedagogical issues; media.

Papers submitted for the planned focus volume might link in with the
UKZN NRF project focus, or explore any issues relating to language and
gender in the Southern African context. Papers will be peer-reviewed
by the group of contributors, before being submitted to the editor of
SALALS for a final decision on publication.

Due Date for Abstracts: 30 November 2005

Date for submission of drafts: 31 January 2006

Please send expressions of interest to Elizabeth de Kadt
([email protected] [2]) and Vasu Reddy ([email protected] [3]).