In this colloquium we present some of the diversity of interest that exists in the intersection of language and religion. The colloquium covers diversity across faiths, language dimensions, social approaches and disciplinary... [ view full abstract ]
In this colloquium we present some of the diversity of interest that exists in the intersection of language and religion. The colloquium covers diversity across faiths, language dimensions, social approaches and disciplinary backgrounds. Its presenters include sociolinguists, discourse analysts, biblical scholars, and a sociologist of religion. We address issues in several faiths, primarily Christianity and Islam, but also reference Buddhism and Jewish texts. Our linguistic approaches range from micro analysis of religious texts to macro considerations of language in religious societies. Our social focus ranges from examination of individual religious figures in the Mediterranean and Middle East to major movements in South East and Central Asia.
The papers fall into two broad categories on a socio/linguistic spectrum. The first group are macro studies of the interface between religion, language and society. We examine where languages and religions encounter each other in Southeast Asia (Pattemore, Joll), and where the operation of language in a society such as the Philippines or a community such as the Ismaili Muslims provides particularly salient instances of the place of religion in that community (Aguirre, Bolander). The second group of papers draw heavily on close analysis of religious texts, in this case the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian New Testament. They include examination of intertextuality in Hebrew prophecy (de Jong), the importance of The Word in Christian and Jewish writings (Meadowcroft), and the sociolinguistic character of the Gospels and of Paul the Apostle (Bell, Porter).
Across this diversity, presenters are aiming to achieve two broad goals: to offer presentations that are accessible to an audience which may not be familiar with either the religion or religious situation we deal with, or with the linguistic or social-theoretical frameworks that we bring to bear. Secondly, we aim to draw wider implications for the study of language and religion from the specific situations and texts that make up our empirical data. We will welcome involvement and interaction from the colloquium audience in debating these issues.
