Call for Papers

Experiments in Linguistic Meaning (ELM*)

http://www.elm-conference.net/
September 16-18, 2020

Organizers: Anna Papafragou and Florian Schwarz, Department of Linguistics, University of Pennsylvania

We are excited to announce the first Experiments in Linguistic Meaning (ELM) conference to be held at the University of Pennsylvania (or virtually, depending on what’s possible in the fall) on September 18-20, 2020. The conference is dedicated to the experimental study of linguistic meaning broadly construed, with a focus on theoretical issues in semantics and pragmatics, their interplay with other components of the grammar, their relation to language processing and acquisition, as well as their connections to human cognition and computation. We aim to include representation of linguistic, psychological, logical, philosophical, social, desvelopmental, computational, as well as cross-linguistic and cross-cultural perspectives.

Invited speakers:

  • David Barner, UC San Diego
  • Suzi Oliveira de Lima, University of Toronto
  • Jonathan Philips, Dartmouth College
  • Maribel Romero, University of Konstanz

The experimental study of meaning in language draws on a broad spectrum of disciplines, topics, and methodologies, and ELM reflects this diversity in its scope. We plan for ELM to occur biennially to foster the interdisciplinary study of meaning, and to create a community of scholars that might not otherwise meet and interact with each other with regularity. We encourage researchers from around the world to submit their recent work to ELM1, and to attend in order to discuss the latest theories and data in the cognitive science of meaning broadly construed.

The University of Pennsylvania is home to a vibrant interdisciplinary community that studies language and meaning across several departments. ELM acknowledges support from Penn’s Integrated Language Sciences and Technology (ILST) Initiative; mindCORE, Penn’s hub for the integrative study of the mind; and Penn’s Department of Linguistics.

Philadelphia is a UNESCO World Heritage City with great history, culture, restaurants and museums. Most major points of interest are within walking distance of the conference location.

Abstract Submissions via Easy Chair, NOW DUE January 12, 2020 (11:59pm EST) [extended from original January 5th deadline)

The conference will feature both 20-minute talks and poster presentations, and abstracts will be considered for both unless only one category is specified at time of submission. Abstracts must be anonymous and written in English. They should use US Letter size paper and 1 inch margins on all four sides. Abstracts must be single-spaced, and written using Arial 11pt font. Abstracts should be at most 2 pages, including the main text of the abstract, figures, and any supplementary materials and references the authors wish to include. Authors should avoid identifying information in the abstract, especially when referring to their own prior work. The abstract must be submitted as a single PDF file and must include a title at the top. Abstracts violating these requirements may be rejected without further consideration.

Timeline:

Acknowledgements: ELM 1 is supported by

Contact: anna4@sas.upenn.edu; florians@sas.upenn.edu

*By coincidence, two conferences with the acronym ELM were conceived of at the same time. If you’re looking for our friends at the other ELM, click here: Expression, Language, Music (ELM 2020)