language and social interaction – Center for Intercultural Dialogue

CFP LSI Approaches to Racial Justice

Call for proposals: Innovations in LSI Approaches to Racial Justice in Research and Pedagogy, Language and Social Interaction Division, International Communication Association, Denver, CO, May 27-31, 2021 (hybrid format). Deadline: October 14, 2020.

The current social and political climate – involving anti-black racism and anti-racist movements – has highlighted enduring racial inequality in the United States and internationally. These current events have prompted widespread interest among academics about ways that racism, whiteness, and structural inequality are pervasive in our own fields. Language in Social Interaction, like most academic fields, includes scholars who focus on questions of racial justice in their research and pedagogy. In this panel, organizers invite these LSI scholars to give short presentations (5 minutes or less) on innovative, effective methods for engaging with racial justice from an LSI perspective. Presentations should provide audience members with ideas or practical tools for how to engage with questions of racial justice in research and pedagogy. Submissions could address, but are not limited to:

Innovative undergraduate or graduate pedagogy activities
Innovative approaches to data sessions
Innovations in analytic methods to reveal racial inequality, highlight minority or marginalized voices, or decenter whiteness
Using LSI approaches and methods in innovative ways to create social change
Reflections on ways that whiteness pervades the LSI academic community & innovative ideas for the future of the field

Organizers encourage participation of ethnically and nationally diverse scholars, of graduate students and faculty, and of scholars from a variety of LSI sub-areas. The goal is to produce a collaborative, useful session for all those involved. Please email abstracts of 150-300 words to Natasha Shrikant by October 15, 2020. Abstracts should include details of your presentation and clearly connect to
LSI research or pedagogy.

CFP: How to Analyze Authority and Power in Interaction (Japan)

The Language and Social Interaction and Organizational Communication divisions of the International Communication Association present How to analyze authority and power in interaction
A preconference to the 2016 meeting of the International Communication Association
July 9, 2016, 9am to 5pm
Fukuoka Sea Hawk Hotel, Japan
Organized by Nicolas Bencherki, Frédérik Matte and François Cooren

Rationale
Historically, studies on language and social interaction have often been criticized for their alleged incapacity to deal with questions of power, coercion and domination (Cooren, 2007). By exclusively focusing on what people do in interactional scenes, LSI scholars have indeed been accused of being ill equipped to address and analyze what makes the interactions they study possible (Reed, 2010). In response, macro-sociologists and critical scholars keep reaffirming the key role that structures, ideologies and power relationships play in the constitution of interactions. However, they rarely analyze conversations or dialogues per se, which means that interaction studies seem often immune to this kind of consideration.

For the past twenty years, however, a growing movement of scholars has decided to go beyond the sterile opposition between agency and structure by openly analyzing everything that happens to make a difference in a given interaction (Bartesaghi, 2009, 2014, Bencherki and Cooren, 2011; Benoit-Barné and Cooren, 2009; Castor and Cooren, 2006; Chiang, 2015; Cooren and Matte, 2010; Taylor and Van Every, 2011, 2014). Instead of exclusively focusing on what people do, these scholars have also taken into account other forms of agency or authorship that seem to make a difference through people’s turns of talk.

How to participate
For this preconference, we would like to encourage scholars to submit papers that explicitly (1) deal with questions of power/authority and (2) illustrate their approach by studying the detail of the interaction that organizers selected. In other words, each participant is invited to shed his or her own original light on the same common interaction.

Any kind of perspective – Conversation Analysis (Pomerantz & Fehr, 1997; Sacks & Jefferson, 1992; Sanders, 2005), Actor Network Theory (ANT) (Latour, 1986; Law, 1991), CCO (Communicative Constitution of Organization) (Benoit-Barné & Cooren, 2009; Bourgoin & Bencherki, 2015; Taylor & Van Every, 2014), Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 2013; Fairclough & Wodak, 1997; van Dijk, 1993), ethnography of communication (Carbaugh & Boromisza-Habashi, 2015; Hymes, 1964; Kalou & Sadler-Smith, 2015), etc. – is welcome as long as these two requirements are met.

This preconference could be of interest to Language and Social Interaction and Organizational Communication scholars, but representatives of other divisions are, of course, also welcome.

Submit a 500-word abstracts including an analysis outline on the preconference website by 18 January.

Responses will be sent by 15 February.

The interaction: “Under whose authority?”
Kim Davis denies marriage licenses to LGBT couples. You may have heard of Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Kentucky, county clerk who has defied court orders in her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. She has gained quite a bit of fame, either as a hero to conservative supporters, or on the contrary in a very negative way among same-sex marriage supporters and within the LGTB community. We propose, as a common empirical material to our discussions, that participants to the preconference use their own analytical approach to analyze the following news excerpt (we apologize any advertisement that may appear at the beginning of the video). You can download the excerpt’s full transcript.

What sense would you make of this excerpt? What does the theoretical or analytical approach that you adopt reveal about what went on in Kim Davis’ office on that day? What may other perspectives be missing or leaving aside? What makes a difference, or what should we take into account, in order to explain the situation we are witnessing in the video? Is this video even enough to make any sense at all of the events? Let us know!

In addition to briefly presenting a theoretical and analytical framework, your abstract should also include a few elements or an outline of an analysis of the excerpt. Show us how this excerpt may be studied differently thanks to the concepts, tools or lenses that your framework provides.

References

Bartesaghi, M. (2009). How the therapist does authority: Six strategies for substituting client accounts in the session. Communication & Medicine, 6(1), 15-25.

Bartesaghi, M. (2014). Coordination: Examining Weather as a “Matter of Concern.” Communication Studies, 65(5), 535-557. http://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2014.957337

Bencherki, N., & Cooren, F. (2011). To have or not to be: the possessive constitution of organization. Human Relations, 64(12), 1579-1607. http://doi.org/10.1177/0018726711424227

Benoit-Barné, C., & Cooren, F. (2009). The Accomplishment of Authority Through Presentification: How Authority Is Distributed Among and Negotiated by Organizational Members. Management Communication Quarterly, 23(1), 5-31. http://doi.org/10.1177/0893318909335414

Bourgoin, A., & Bencherki, N. (2015). The performance of authority in organizations. Presented at the European Group for Organization Studies, Athens, Greece.

Carbaugh, D., & Boromisza-Habashi, D. (2015). Ethnography of Communication. In The International Encyclopedia of Language and Social Interaction. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118611463.wbielsi119/abstract

Castor, T., & Cooren, F. (2006). Organizations as Hybrid forms of Life: The Implications of the Selection of Agency in Problem Formulation. Management Communication Quarterly, 19(4), 570-600. http://doi.org/10.1177/0893318905284764

Chiang, S.-Y. (2015). Power and Discourse. In K. Tracy, C. Ilie, & T. Sandel (Eds.), The International Encyclopedia of Language and Social Interaction. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118611463.wbielsi149/abstract

Cooren, F. (Ed.). (2007). Interacting and organizing: analyses of a management meeting. Mahwah, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Cooren, F., & Matte, F. (2010). For a constitutive pragmatics: Obama, Médecins Sans Frontières and the measuring stick. Pragmatics and Society, 1(1), 9-31. http://doi.org/10.1075/ps.1.1.02coo

Fairclough, N. (2013). Critical Discourse Analysis: The Critical Study of Language. Routledge.

Fairclough, N., & Wodak, R. (1997). Critical discourse analysis. In T. A. van Dijk (Ed.), Discourse as social interaction (pp. 258-284). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Hymes, D. (1964). Introduction: Toward Ethnographies of Communication. American Anthropologist, 66(6), 1-34. http://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1964.66.suppl_3.02a00010

Kalou, Z., & Sadler-Smith, E. (2015). Using Ethnography of Communication in Organizational Research. Organizational Research Methods, 18(4), 629.

Latour, B. (1986). The Powers of Association. In J. Law (Ed.), Power, action and belief: a new sociology of knowledge? (pp. 264-280). London: Routledge.

Law, J. (1991). A Sociology of monsters: essays on power, technology, and domination. New York: Routledge.

Pomerantz, A., & Fehr, B. J. (1997). Conversation Analysis: An Approach to the Study of Social Action as Sense Making Practices. In T. A. van Dijk (Ed.), Discourse as Social Interaction (pp. 64-91). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Reed, M. (2010). Is Communication Constitutive of Organization? Management Communication Quarterly, 24(1), 151-157. http://doi.org/10.1177/0893318909351583

Sacks, H., & Jefferson, G. (1992). Lectures on conversation. Oxford, UK?; Cambridge, Mass.: Blackwell.

Sanders, R. E. (2005). Preface to section II: Conversation analysis. In K. L. Fitch & R. E. Sanders (Eds.), Handbook of language and social interaction (pp. 67-70). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0420/2004016806.html

Taylor, J. R., & Van Every, E. J. (2011). The situated organization: Studies in the pragmatics of communication research. New York, NY: Routledge.

Taylor, J. R., & Van Every, E. J. (2014). When Organization Fails: Why Authority Matters. New York, NY: Routledge.

van Dijk, T. A. (1993). Principles of Critical Discourse Analysis. Discourse & Society, 4(2), 249-283. http://doi.org/10.1177/0957926593004002006

Portland State U job ad

The Department of Communication at Portland State University (PSU) seeks a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track, Assistant Professor to begin September 16, 2013. To be considered, applicants must specialize in one or more of the following areas in Communication: (1) Critical/Cultural; (2) Interpersonal (including Language and Social Interaction); (3) Media/Mediated; or (4) Organizational Communication. Applicants must also demonstrate the capacity to secure external funding. Primary job requirements include publishing research, effectively teaching undergraduate and graduate (i.e., Masters) students, participating in departmental and university service, and securing external funding. Typical teaching load is 2/2/2. Applicants must have their Ph.D. (in Communication or a closely allied discipline) in hand by time of hire. PSU is an Affirmative-Action, Equal-Opportunity Institution and welcomes applications from candidates who support diversity. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

PSU is the largest university in the Oregon University System, with approximately 29,000 students. PSU offers an excellent benefits package (including healthcare), a generous retirement and vacation package, and reduced tuition rates for employees, their spouses, and their dependents. For more information about our department, the university, and its strategic plan, please visit our website (see ‘open position’ under ‘useful links’).

Review of applications will begin Friday, October 5th, and will continue until the position is filled. Regarding late submissions, please contact the search chair directly (see below). Applications may be either mailed directly to the department in hard-copy form, or more preferably emailed (see below). Only complete applications will be reviewed, which consist of (in order, please): (1) letter of application; (2) curriculum vita; (3) up to three samples of published (or in-press) research; (4) evidence of teaching effectiveness; (5) a separate page with applicant’s contact information (including email and phone); and (6) a separate page with the name and contact information of three people who agree to act as references/recommenders (Note: Please do not submit letters of recommendation, which may be solicited at a later stage in the review process). Email applications must be in .pdf format, include the applicant’s name in the subject line (e.g., “Doe, John: PSU Communication Job”), and be sent to: commdept@pdx.edu. Hard copies must be mailed to: Dr. Jeffrey D. Robinson, Attn. Job Search, University Center Building, 520 SW Harrison Street, Suite 440, Portland, OR 97201. Please make enquiries to the search chair: Dr. Jeffrey D. Robinson.

Job ad-interaction/intercultural

Assistant Professor of Communication: Language & Social Interaction
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Beginning Fall 2011

The Communication Department is seeking candidates for a tenure track Assistant Professor to teach courses in Language and Social Interaction (e.g., discourse analysis, ethnography of communication, pragmatics, narrative analysis), with an emphasis in qualitative research on culture, identity, diversity, and/or questions of social justice. The successful candidate will be able to teach 1-2 sections of Communication and the Human Condition, a large lecture course for entry-level undergraduates (majors and non-majors). Additional assignments may include courses in Introduction to the Communication Discipline Parts 1 & 2 (theory and research courses), Communication and Ethnicity (African American or Native American sections needed), Intercultural Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Communication and Social Movements, or Health Communication, depending upon interests/expertise and department needs.

Responsibilities:
-Teaching: teaching classes in the undergraduate program, curriculum development, grading, holding regular office hours.
-Research: research and scholarly publication, culminating in refereed journal and conference publications. Book publications and grants are welcomed contributions.
-Service: provide service to the department in support of curriculum, teaching, and service to the university and community. Service includes student advising, serving on departmental and university committees, assisting in departmental and university events. Contribute to the development and improvement of departmental programs and activities. Contributions to community projects and events are also appreciated.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
-Sensitivity to, or experience in, working with a diverse, multicultural population
-Ability to teach introductory communication courses and upper-level courses in Language and Social Interaction at the college level.
-Ability to engage in appropriate instructor-student relationships and interactions and collegial conduct
-Ability to effectively communicate with students, staff and colleagues both orally and in writing
-Knowledge of computer technology (software programs such as MS Word) and ability to learn and use new software/technologies (e.g. D2L course management software)

Qualifications:
Required:
-Ph.D. in Communication at the time of appointment. ABD’s considered.
-Coursework, scholarship, and/or teaching experience in language and social interaction, and in one or more of the emphases noted in the position description
Preferred:
-Minimum of one year’s teaching experience at the college level, with evidence of teaching effectiveness.
-Some evidence of course development.
-Experience teaching courses in the areas under “additional assignments” in the position description.

Salary:
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The University of Wisconsin System provides a liberal benefits package, including participation in a state pension plan.

The University:
UW-Parkside is committed to academic excellence, student success, community engagement, and diversity and inclusiveness. The University enrolls approximately 5,100 students, many of whom are first generation and nontraditional students. Located in northern Kenosha County in the Chicago-Milwaukee urban corridor, much of the university’s 700-acre campus has been preserved in its natural wooded and prairie state.

Review of Applications:
Complete applications received by March 18, 2011 are ensured full consideration; position is open until filled.

To Apply:
Interested candidates should submit the following, preferably in electronic format:
-A cover letter of application
-Curriculum vitae
-Copies of graduate transcripts (unofficial copies will be acceptable at the application stage)
-Samples of syllabi from courses taught
-Statement of teaching and research philosophy
-Summary of teaching evaluations
-Examples of scholarly work
-Names and contact information for three references
(Additional materials may be requested.)

Email submissions to: lambin@uwp.edu

Mail:
Joseph Lambin
University of Wisconsin-Parkside,
Communication Department
900 Wood Road
Kenosha, WI 53141

UW-Parkside is an AA/EEO employer D/M/V/W

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