Places of Memory, Text and Word. Interdisciplinary Perspectives between Archival Studies, Philology, Linguistics, and Palaeography,

29-30 janvier, Bergame

Date: 29-Jan-2026 – 30-Jan-2026
Location: Bergamo, Italy

Linguistic Field(s): Cognitive Science; Discipline of Linguistics; Historical Linguistics; Sociolinguistics; Text/Corpus Linguistics

Call Deadline: 14-Nov-2025

Call for Papers:

This PhD conference is organized by the PhD program of Philological and Linguistic Studies in Oral and Written Records of the University of Bergamo (IT). The event aims to investigate how “place” can be both materially and conceptually interpreted across archival, linguistic, philological, and palaeographic approaches.

Linguistic topics include:
– Language change and geography, focusing on spatial factors in synchronic and diachronic linguistic variation;
– Space and conceptual metaphors, addressing how embodied experience and spatial cognition shape metaphorical processes;
– Space and linguistic identity, examining the role of diatopic variation and indexicality in constructing social identities;
– Immigrant languages and language policies, analysing how spatial contexts condition language use, inclusion, and representation;
– Linguistic landscape and toponymy, exploring how place names and public signage reveal social and diachronic dynamics;
– Spaces of linguistic research, reflecting on the methodological and ethical implications of conducting research in specific physical or virtual settings.

Participation Guidelines:

This call for papers is open to Ph.D. candidates as well as to early career researchers who obtained their Ph.D. within the past three years. Abstracts should not exceed 300 words and must be accompanied by a short essential bibliography and a brief biographical note outlining the applicant’s academic background. Proposals may be submitted in Italian or English. The deadline for submission is November 14th, 2025. Proposals should be sent to the following email address: phd.conference.sfili@unibg.it.
Each presentation will last 20 minutes. Notification of acceptance will be sent by November 28th, 2025. For further information or enquiries, please contact: phd.conference.sfili@unibg.it.