The Third International Conference on Multicultural Discourses
held in Hangzhou, Aug 27-29, 2010

Following the first two tri-annual conferences in 2004 and 2007, respectively, the three-day Third International Conference on Multinational Discourses was held between 27th and 29th of August at Huabei Hotel overlooking the West Lake in Beishan Road, Hangzhou.

The conference was attended by over 130 people coming from 25 countries in all Continents of the world. On the first day, eleven scholars, including Maria Jose Coracini (Brazil), Davie E. Mutasa (South Africa), Shi-xu (China) and Jef Verschueren (Beligium), gave plenary speeches representing a diversity of culturally particular problems of discourse and approaches to them. The following day was organized around five parallel sessions on themes ranging from theory and method of discourse studies, regional and intercultural issues of discourse, issues of domination and resistance, issues of ethnicity and gender to Chinese issues of discourse. Especially the last one drew enormous attention. On the final, open-session day, guests reflected on the conference and future teaching and research on the topic. At the closing speech, Shi-xu stressed the need to create multicultural approaches to generate innovative and helpful research and concluded the fact that there have been scholars coming from all cultural backgrounds, exposing all kinds of cultural issues of discourse, and exploring culturally different approaches fulfilled the purpose of the conference to increase critical awareness of that need.

The conference was organized by the Institute of Discourse and Cultural Studies and Centre for Contemporary Chinese Discourse Studies of Zhejiang University and the Centre for Discourse and Cultural Studies of Hangzhou Normal University. The Ministry of Education and the Tang Yongqian Foundation of Zhejiang University co-sponsored the conference.

2010-8-20：‘Summer School of Discourse Studies 2010' will be held at Yongfu Temple, Hangzhou, Aug 30 (click here). Registration by Aug 25 with Lulu Chen: 3040533003@zju.edu.cn.

Following the great success of the first two tri-annual International Conference on Multicultural Discourses in 2004 and 2007, respectively, the Third will be held between August 27 and 29, 2010, again in Hangzhou! The organiser is the Institute of Discourse & Cultural Studies of Zhejiang University and the co-sponsor the University’s Centre for Contemporary Chinese Discourse Studies.

The coming Conference on Multicultural Discourses will remain committed to the original broad aims: 1) to enhance critique of cultural imperialism in scholarly discourse, 2) to promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue in discourse studies, 3) to advance research into culturally repressive discourses, culturally marginalized discourses and new discourses helpful to cultural coexistence, solidarity and prosperity. The particular areas of study include but are not limited by:

cultural critique of dominant language/communication/discourse scholarships;

studies of concepts, theories and methods of language/communication/discourse outside mainstream traditions;

intercultural dialogue and cross-fertilization in discourse/language/communication scholarships

studies of discourses that reflect the realities, issues, concerns and aspirations of marginalized or otherwise troubled groups and communities;

studies of new or alternative discourses of cultural cohesion and progress;

discussion of the needs and norms for conducting intercultural and international communication

Call for Paper downloadable

Registration Form downloadable If the form is not downloadable in your computer, please contact us for email form.