Friday, October 15, 2010

Introduction

 
SoLLs.INTEC.11
International Conference

Language, Culture,
& Literacy:
Engaging Diversity in Challenging Times
11 – 12 May 2011
Equatorial Hotel
Bangi, Selangor




Diversity is seen by many as a cornerstone of social, cultural and political well-being. In the linguistic realm it is of special importance, given that languages and cultures are an integral part of humanity’s intangible heritage. Tools of communication including language and signs, shape the way we view the world and provide a link between past, present and future.  Living diversity means addressing  the philosophical, theoretical and practical questions that arise when different languages and cultures meet or intersect with likely degrees of understanding and/or mis-understanding event conflict.  We must expose certain covert arguments and fallacies without shying away from addressing the underlying political, linguistic, psycho-social, relational and communicative dimensions of the issues involved.  This conference intends to address these issues as needed.

Specifically, this conference aims to:
  • Provide a platform for policy makers, language educators, academicians, and researchers from diverse cultural and language  backgrounds to exchange ideas
  • Keep abreast with the latest developments in languages, literacies and cultures
  • Promote  better understanding of cultural diversity in literacy education, language learning and studies
  • Encourage  academics to be involved in exploring newer research methodologies in line with the complexity in cultural meaning-making
  • Establish links among policy-makers, academics, educationists, teachers, activists and students  and/or the institutions/groups they represent
  • Produce a collection of scholarly papers presented at the conference to address the emerging and important issues in language, culture and literacy