The Discourse of British and German Colonialism: Convergence and Competition

Felicity Rash Announcement
Location
United Kingdom
Subject Fields
African History / Studies, Colonial and Post-Colonial History / Studies, Cultural History / Studies, German History / Studies, Nationalism History / Studies

This conference will explore the various connections and synergies between British and German colonialist discourses from the seventeenth century onwards. While it is known that similarities and differences exist in the British and German discourse traditions expressing colonialist ideology, this is an under-researched area in respect of historical texts. A discipline of historical discourse analysis is well-established for German political discourse but is not well-represented for similar English-language discourse and analysis of the primary texts of colonialist discourse tends to rely upon non-linguistic methods. Papers are invited from scholars working in the fields of historical discourse using the methods of Critical Linguistics, Historical Discourse Analysis, Conceptual History (German “Begriffsgeschichte”), Literary Theory and Critical Metaphor Analysis. Source texts could include political, scientific and philosophical tracts, travel literature, autobiography and fiction. The study of images and of the modes of display of historical artefacts are also considered relevant constituents of discourse. The conference will mark the start of an innovative interdisciplinary project which will broaden the field of historical discourse analysis within the English-speaking world and allow comparison of British and German colonialist discourse. A major achievement of this future project would be to shed light upon the history of discursive strategies to be observed in modern discourses concerned with migration, race relations and post-colonial politics.

Contact Information

Professor Felicity Rash, School of Languages, Linguistics and Film, Queen Mary, University of London

Conference web-site: http://bit.ly/2kcPWCJ

Please send abstracts of 200-250 words and no more than 10 references.

Contact Email
f.j.rash@qmul.ac.uk