Call for Papers, International Conference « ἀναλογἰα », Analogie

University of Gabes                                                                           University of Sfax

The Higher Institute of Human Sciences of Medenine (ISSHM)

in collaboration with

Laboratoire Langage et Traitement Automatique

Organizes

The First International Conference of the ISSHM

on

« « ἀναλογἰα » Analogy »

April 18-19,  2016

Call for Papers: The First International Conference

 « ἀναλογἰα », Analogie

ISSHM, University of Gabès, April 18-19, 2016 

1.      Rationale and Purpose

The concept of analogy, or in Latin terms « analogia », which is in turn borrowed from the Greek « ἀναλογἰα » has been, throughout its history since classical antiquity, a controversial concept beyond any effort of conceptualization.  It is “an evasive concept” implying different things for different people (Dejong, 1989). 

In essence, although it should be regarded as an essential vector promoting the creative genius of languages (according to neo-grammarians), analogy has been disregarded and abandoned by Chomsky-inspired linguistics. So far, research studies have demonstrated the usage of analogy in the domains belonging to exact sciences such as mathematics, medicine and information sciences, but in the human sciences, mainly in the sciences of language, this concept remains very little explored.

That is why, there has been a renewed interest in this concept in the last few decades. This was essentially thanks to the interaction between recent works in cognitive psychology, in the sciences of language, in philosophy, and in exact sciences. Indeed, analogy constitutes the leitmotif which monopolizes our discoveries and apprenticeships to the extent it merits the title of “the core of cognition,” or “the fuel and fire of thinking” as Hofstadter and Sander (2013) describes it. It is a mechanism of thinking, and a tool powerful enough to produce new meanings, and to lead to logical conclusions. It plays a significant rhetorical role in illustration, representation and argumentation. 

  Hence, shedding light on analogy within the context of discourse analysis is of a paramount importance not only to understand ordinary language but also to master one of the most prominent mechanisms in literary, linguistic, rhetorical, philosophical, legislative, legal and artistic discourses. The concept of analogy could, henceforth, constitute a field of investigation for the researchers in linguistics, pragmatics and cognitive sciences. Revisiting the concept of analogy through studying it from different perspectives and in different languages (French, Arabic and English) is one of this conference’s aims—if not the main one.   This conference is being convened to be a forum for all those interested in the concept of analogy in order to seek a common and interdisciplinary conceptualization of analogy and of its fields of application in the three languages providing, thus, a variety of venues to bring invaluable information and implications about analogy and its evolution from “ἀναλογἰα” to “analogy”. 

Proposals to the conference may address—but are not limited to--aspects of the following:

­   Analogy : Definitional issues (in dictionaries and encyclopedias)

­   Analogy : Tools and functions

­   Analogy and adjacent concepts (analogy and inference: suppressed/implied analogy, etc.).

­   Analogy as a figure of speech (analogy, allegory and conceptual metaphor)

­   Analogy in discourse in general (conversational, literary, linguistic, rhetorical, philosophical, legislative, legal, artistic discourses, etc.)

­   Analogy and discourse analysis theories

­   Analogy and argumentation 

­   Analogy and learning theories

­   Analogy and the theological discourse

­   Analogy and linguistic creation

­   Analogy and translation studies

­   Analogy and Logic

­   Analogy in cognitive sciences

The language of the conference will be French, Arabic, or English.

The abstracts should be sent to the following address: issh.analogie@gmail.com 

References:

Dejong, G. (1989). The role of explanation in analogy; or, the curse of an alluring name. In

S.Vosniadou & A. Ortony (Eds.), Similarity and analogical reasoning. Cambridge, MA: Cammbridge University press.

2.      Important Dates:  

Ø  Abstract submission deadline: February 20, 2016

Ø  Acceptance notification: March 15, 2016

Ø  Final paper submission deadline: May 20, 2016

Ø  Conference date: April 18 and 19

Ø  Conference venue: The Higher Institute of Human Sciences of Medenine.

               Route Benguerdene, Medenine, opposite the House of Culture  

Ø Conference proceedings publication: The end of 2016

For any further information, contact the coordinator of the conference:

Dr. Tarek Ghazel,  tarek.ghazel@gmail.com 

3.      The Scientific Committee

§    Prof. Mohamed Bouattour, University of  Sfax, LLTA, Tunisia

§    Prof. Philippe Monneret, University of  Paris Sorbonne, France

§    Prof. Francis Corblin, University of Paris Sorbonne, France

§    Prof. Mounir Triki, Université of Sfax, Tunisia  

§    Prof. Omar Cherni, University of Blaise Pascal, France

§    Prof. Mabrouk Mannaï, University of  Mannouba, Tunisia

§    Prof. Mohamed Ben Ayed, University of Sfax, Tunisia

§    Dr. Mohsen Tounsi, MCF, University of Sfax, LLTA, Tunisia

§    Dr. Thomas Verjans, MCF, University of  Burgandy, France  

§    Dr. Jean Pierre Picot, MCF, University of Gabès, ISSHM, Tunisia

§    Dr. Chokri Rhibi, MA, University of Gabès, ISSHM, LLTA, Tunisia

§    Dr. Mohamed Habib Ghediri, MA, University of Gabès, ISSHM, Tunisia

§    Dr. Riadh Ben Achour, MA, University of Gabès, ISSHM, LLTA Sfax, Tunisia

§    Dr. Mohamed Ayet Mihoub, MA, University of Tunis, Tunisia

4.      The Steering Committee:

– From the French Department :

§ 

§  M. Jamel Zaïdi

§  Mme. Leila Jallouli

§  M. Bayrem Ben Khalifa

- From the Arab Department:

§  Dr. Riadha Labiyadh,

§  M. Ali Boujdidi,

§  Mme. Amel Naghmouchi Gammoudi

- From the English Department:

§  Dr. Awatef Boubakri

§  Mme. Zeineb Deymi-Gheriani

- From LLTA, University of Sfax

§  Dr. Mohamed Mselmi, FLSH Sfax

§  Dr. Saloua Kammoun, ISL Gabès

§  M. Abdellah Terwait, Phd Student, Univ. Of Paris IV Sorbonne