Despite the fact that most of the world's linguistic varieties and linguistic behaviour fall under non-standard and non-standardised language, most linguistic research focuses on standard language varieties, typically referencing standard grammars and dictionaries. This trend is also evident in formal Slavic linguistics. What remains uncharted in the picture emerging from most Slavic linguistic conferences is a wide variety of non-standard(ised) Slavic, ranging from the traditionally described dialects (especially their synchronic descriptions) to historical, heritage, youth and mixed varieties. The list is by no means restricted to low-prestige varieties: high-prestige urban vernaculars often remain undescribed in domains where they deviate from the standard in ways that cannot be presented as standard-internal derivation  (e.g. the lexical prosody of Skopje Macedonian or the non-tonal prosody of non-Neoštokavian cities in Serbia and Croatia). 

While there is no doubt that non-standard(ised) Slavic varieties have equal potential to inform formal theories as their standardised counterparts, conducting research on non-standard(ised) varieties faces additional methodological challenges. Areas where these challenges are especially salient are corpus-based and experimentally based research.

This workshop aims to provide a platform for the discussion and sharing of best practices in addressing these challenges, with the ultimate goal of advancing the field of corpus-based and experimentally based research on non-standard Slavic varieties. We are primarily interested in formal research of any aspect of grammar and meaning on corpus or experimental material from non-standard(ised) Slavic varieties, but theoretically relevant work on the building and use of corpora and experimental tools targeting such varieties is also welcome.

Topics that can be addressed include but are by no means restricted to:

• the formal treatment of variation (within the targeted variety and with respect to related varieties), extra-linguistic factors of variation,

• variety delimitation, the formal treatment of language contact and mixing,

• language change (contact-induced or internal),

• metalinguistic language production and emergent normativity in non-standard(ised) Slavic.

We invite 45 minute talks (including 15 minutes for discussion). We especially encourage talks focusing on good practices and open issues in the methodologies of corpus-based and experimentally based research of  non-standard(ised) Slavic. 

Abstract Submission:

Abstracts must not exceed 2 pages (including examples, graphs, references). They should have 2.5 cm or 1 inch margins, should be single-spaced, in a font size not smaller than 12 pt.

Examples, graphs etc. should be intertwined in the text (rather than placed at the end).

Abstracts must be anonymous (nothing in the abstract or the document should identify the

authors), and must be submitted in PDF format via Oxford Abstracts

Deadline for the receipt of abstracts: May 15, 2023 May 31, 2023

Notification of acceptance: August 15, 2023 August 31, 2023

Conference e-mail: fdsl16@uni-graz.at