English as a Lingua Nordica – Language in a Changing World (#ELN2024) conference organized by NEaT and Kieliasiantuntijat (Language Experts) is held 30–31 August 2024 at Visitor and Innovation Centre Joki, Lemminkäisenkatu 12 b, Turku/Åbo, Finland. See information.
Programme
Scroll down to find presentation abstracts and speaker profiles.
| Thursday, 29 August | |
| 19.00 | Optional meet-up and networking at Restaurant Tiirikkala in Turku city centre |
| Friday, 30 August | |
| 10.00–11.00 | Off-conference programme Guided walking tour of Turku, meeting in front of the Cathedral |
| 11.00–12.00 | Registration open in the lobby of Innovation and Visitor Centre Joki, Lemminkäisenkatu 12 b, Turku/Åbo |
| 13.00 | Conference opens Welcome in room Putous Kate Sotejeff-Wilson, Chair of Nordic Editors and Translators Hanna Gorschelnik, Executive Director, Kieliasiantuntijat (Language Experts) Saara Malila, Director of Communications at The City of Turku |
| 13.15 | KEYNOTE remote in Putous Englishes, Tourism and Sustainability from a Nordic Perspective Susanne Mohr, Professor of English Sociolinguistics at the Department of Language and Literature in the Norwegian University of Science and Technology |
| 14.15–15.00 | Coffee break in the lobby |
| 15.00–17.00 | Panel discussion in Putous Nordic Languages Interacting with English: Challenges and Changes Panellists from Nordic language councils: Henna Makkonen-Craig, Senior Language Specialist, Kotimaisten kielten keskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland); Peter Juel Henrichsen, Senior Scientist, Dansk Sprognævn, Denmark; Laila Höglund, Project Manager, Institutet för språk och folkminnen, Sweden; and Kjetil Gundersen, Senior Advisor, Språkrådet, Norway. Moderator Kate Sotejeff-Wilson, Chair of NEaT. |
| Dinner (at a restaurant of own choice, not included in conference programme) | |
| 21.00 | Optional after-dinner drinks and get-together at Restaurant Koulu |
| Saturday, 31 August | ||
| Workshops (parallel sessions) | ||
| 10.00–12.00 | Poetry Workshop: English as a Ferrying Language in room Järvi-Salmi Jordan Barger, US, and Reetta Pekkanen, FI | Revising Grant Applications and Funding Proposals in room Workshop Vanessa L. Fuller, FI |
| 10.00–12.00 | All About the Process in room Putous Simon Berrill, ES | An Argument for Sensitivity Editing: The Call to be Kind in room Amfiteatteri Anna Merikallio, FI, and Julie Uusinarkaus, FI |
| 12.00–13.30 | Lunch included in conference programme at restaurant Mauno | |
| Presentations (parallel sessions) | ||
| 13.30 | Human Excellence in an AI World in room Putous Kenneth Quek, FI | Overheard in Therapy: An Analysis of a Language-aware Encounter in room Amfiteatteri Alicja Fajfer, FI |
| 14.15 | KEYNOTE English in the Nordic Countries in room Putous Elizabeth Peterson Senior University Lecturer, Department of Languages, University of Helsinki | |
| 15.15 | Coffee break in the lobby | |
| 15.45 | KEYNOTE The Role of English in Translation into Finnish in room Putous Laura Ivaska University Lecturer, English Department, University of Turku | |
| 17.00 | Closing words in Putous Kate Sotejeff-Wilson Chair of NEaT | |
| 19.00 | Closing Dinner at Restaurant Oobu | |
Abstracts and speaker profiles
Englishes, Tourism and Sustainability from a Nordic Perspective
Susanne Mohr, NO
As a result of multiple socio-political and cultural factors, English has rapidly spread globally from its homeland and continues to do so to this day. Thus, different ‘Englishes’ (Mesthrie & Bhatt 2008) have developed in numerous places across the world, both offline and online, and are being used in various domains, with different functions. The field of World Englishes is concerned with the status and functions of these Englishes, as well as with their linguistic features (Mesthrie 2013). However, much of the research to date, has failed to adequately acknowledge the recent developments in sociolinguistics (Saraceni 2015). Research on tourism and Englishes, with its focus on, for instance, globalization, mobility, transnationalism, and cultural and linguistic diversity, is a notable exception. This is the first area on which this lecture will shed light.
Language and tourism or language in tourism have been approached from different angles, with a sociolinguistic vantage point examining the performative function of language in tourist contexts. Here, tourism emerges as a cultural industry that influences language choices and use. Language choices and multilingualism are frequently explored in this line of research, and English has emerged as the globally most frequently used language in tourism (Ruiz-Garrido & Saorín-Iborra 2013). Its use is normally a sign of international orientation, whereas local languages are utilised to enhance the authenticity of destinations and experiences (Storch & Mietzner 2021). The second area on which the lecture will focus is the use of Englishes in tourism in Norway, and the role that English plays as opposed to other local and international languages. My emphasis will be on the promotion of sustainability, which is construed differently in different languages and for different target groups. This I will illustrate using both offline and online data from cruise tourist contexts along the Norwegian coast.
Susanne Mohr is Professor of English Sociolinguistics at the Department of Language and Literature at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. She holds a German postdoctoral degree in English and general linguistics from the University of Bonn and a PhD in general linguistics from the University of Cologne. Since 2018, she has been awarded several grants and fellowships to research linguistic repertoires, language choices and the interface of formal and informal language learning in physical and digital tourist spaces. The nature of her research is sociolinguistic and applied, and her key research interests include multilingualism and language contact, multimodality, informal language learning, and discursive place-making.
Panel discussion: Nordic Languages Interacting with English: Challenges and Changes
This is the first ever panel of representatives from Nordic language councils. The panel discussion is a unique opportunity to compare and discuss English as a language used frequently in the Nordic countries for communication, business and other purposes as well as the countries’ language policies. The panellists are Henna Makkonen-Craig, Senior Language Specialist, Kotimaisten kielten keskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland); Peter Juel Henrichsen, Senior Scientist, Dansk Sprognævn, Denmark; Laila Höglund, Project Manager, Institutet för språk och folkminnen, Sweden; and Kjetil Gundersen, Senior Advisor, Språkrådet, Norway. The panel is moderated by Kate Sotejeff-Wilson, Chair of NEaT.
How has English impacted on the languages of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark? How are these languages changing? What is the role of English in these countries? What challenges do we see for the future of these languages? We look forward to a stimulating discussion with you.
Poetry Workshop: English as a Ferrying Language
Jordan Barger, US, and Reetta Pekkanen, FI
Optimistically speaking, English can serve as a ferrying language. A poetry workshop is one of the best modes to showcase this. We also believe that a translation workshop is a valuable tool for learning a language, in this case, Finnish.
We will host a two-hour session. The first hour we will spend workshopping a Finnish poem into English, and the second hour workshopping an English poem into Finnish.
The facilitators will be American translator Jordan Barger and Finnish poet Reetta Pekkanen. The two first met as part of the International Writer’s Workshop at Iowa, which was Jordan’s first serious point of contact with the Finnish language. We hope to demystify the idea of translation being restricted to advanced language practitioners, valorizing the translation workshop as a pedagogical tool, a close multicultural exchange, and a linguistic crossroads.
Jordan Barger is a translator and Masters student in Literary Translation at the University of Iowa. His translations have appeared in Poetry Magazine, FENCE, Circumference, and elsewhere.
Reetta Pekkanen is a Turku poet who has published the collections Pieniä kovia nuppuja [Small Hard Buds] (2014), Kärhi [Tendril] (2019), Salakuljetuksia [Smugglings] (2021), and Katkaistut tulppaanit [Cut Tulips] (2023). Her poetry focuses on themes of personal and environmental loss, non-human perspectives, and natural semiotics. Among her awards are the Kalevi Jäntti Prize, the Katri Vala Prize, and the Silja Hiidenheimo Memorial Stipend. She is a member of the poetry publishing cooperative Poesia.
Workshop: All About the Process
Simon Berrill, ES
The first part of the workshop will concentrate on what ‘process’ means and what kinds of processes we follow, from receiving an inquiry and sending a quote, through various drafts and the use of different tools, to our final text being ready for delivery. After a short presentation, followed by discussions in different sized groups, attendees will consider their own process and those of others. Do we always work the same way, or do we vary the process, depending on the job? Are we looking for perfection from the start or do we gradually improve a piece of writing? And how do we decide when it is ready for delivery?
The second part of the session will focus on flaws and improvements. Again, through discussions in groups of varying sizes, attendees will try to identify the problems in their own processes and look for ways of resolving them with the help of their colleagues. By the end of the session, attendees should have a much better idea of their own working process and alternative models. They should also have identified improvements they would like to make, and the actions they can take to bring these about.
Simon Berrill is a translator working from Spanish, Catalan and French into English and specialising in cultural tourism, particularly history, heritage and wine. He has presented at METM and for the ITI. Simon lives near Barcelona and is a member of the ITI, CIoL, MET and APTIC.
Workshop: Sensitivity Editing: The Call to be Kind
Anna Merikallio, FI, and Julie Uusinarkaus, FI
This workshop will introduce and define the principles behind sensitivity editing and translating sensitively, and psychological accessibility. These go beyond just looking at ethnicity and gender; they also include ableism and words referencing mental health, gender and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, and words describing ourselves and the political world in which we live. We will first present some general principles of sensitivity editing and translating and review how these can be applied in practice, and then spend some time working in smaller groups delving deeper into these principles and how to apply them, and discovering other, more specific ways to approach texts. At the end of each focus session, we will share and review what we have learned.
Language grows and adapts along with cultural changes, and sometimes words and phrases have grown out of their original concepts, which no longer apply. When we are aware of these concepts and keep future readers in mind, the texts we produce will be available to a larger audience and help language evolve towards greater accessibility and kindness.
Julie (Jules) Uusinarkaus (she/they) is an in-house translation revisor at the University of Helsinki and a freelance editor and language consultant. As a revisor, Jules focuses on stylistic issues and contributes to the in-house guidelines. Their areas of focus include style guides, organizational development, and the language of design.
Anna Merikallio (they/them) is a freelance translator and language revisor and a doctoral researcher at the University of Turku. As a language professional, their areas of expertise include science communication, media literacy, and cultural heritage. In their research, they discuss the themes of ethical translation, gender diversity, and science fiction.
Workshop: Revising Grant Applications and Funding Proposals
Vanessa L. Fuller, FI
This workshop is intended to provide practical tips for English-language revisions to grant applications and funding proposals. Whilst most academic editors are well familiar with the process of revising manuscripts intended for publication in peer-reviewed journals for grammar and style, funding applications and grant applications require a slightly different – albeit no less important – touch. Understanding the differences between peer-reviewed publications and requests for funding is crucial to English-language editors working with academic researchers, particularly given the increasingly competitive funding process.
In this workshop, we will, first, discuss the differences between academic manuscripts and grant applications, then shift to highlighting the differences in style and formatting editors must address in their work, comparing the types of texts. Finally, we will outline how best to serve our clients’ needs when working on their requests for funding. Using sample texts, submission guidelines and a short sample exercise which compares and contrasts publications versus grant applications, this workshop is intended for English-language editors working with university researchers.
Vanessa Fuller is a University Instructor and English-Language Revisor in Language Services at the University of Helsinki. Following a career in international public health and development aid, she returned to the academic fold a decade ago, designing workshops and courses on various academic skills such as grant writing and presenting for younger scholars and researchers at various stages of their careers. She spends her time primarily obsessing over matters of language and style amongst academics, and mentoring her peers on communicating science more efficiently and effectively.
Human Excellence in an AI World
Kenneth Quek, FI
The world of publishing is facing encroachment from LLM (Large Language Model) text generation and translation software. As editors and translators, we need to make our case for our continued relevance, based on our ability to do things that LLMs cannot do well – to provide human excellence in an AI world. But what does ‘excellence’ truly mean, and does it provide actual value to our clients?
In this presentation, Kenneth considers excellence from the perspective of the service provider, the client and institutional bodies – both academic and commercial. Each of these will have a different idea of what constitutes excellent work; many components will overlap, and they will be prioritised differently. One of the biggest challenges for a language professional is to reconcile these potentially conflicting demands to deliver a product that is truly excellent for each stakeholder party. He will thus seek to offer suggestions for a service concept that emphasises the advantages that human editors and translators hold over LLMs.
This talk will hopefully prove to be of interest to all language professionals seeking to secure their prospects in an industry undergoing rapid change and facing tremendous pressure on volume and prices.
Kenneth Quek is a Singaporean who resides in Helsinki. He works as a freelance academic revisor for the University of Helsinki Language Centre as well as a freelance editor and copywriter in the corporate sector. He has previous experience in private teaching, translation and journalism.
Overheard in Therapy: An Analysis of a Language-Aware Encounter
Alicja Fajfer, FI
This presentation analyses a one-time therapy session with one bilingual and one monolingual client, in which the therapist also plays the role of interpreter. The data come from a publicly available recording. Given the nature of therapeutic work, the therapist’s office should be a language-aware environment by default. Drawing from Conversation Analysis, I will focus on how the linguistic insecurity of the monolingual client is mitigated. Although the group agrees on ground rules, the interaction reveals the difficulties of ensuring an ideal language-aware encounter. Although it seems promising in the beginning, the interaction soon ruptures, as the monolingual participant finds themselves excluded. The rupture in communication requires adjusting the interpreting practice from treating the recipient as completely monolingual, passive and separated from the source language message to engaging them to interact with the source language and co-create the interpretation. Despite being relatively short, the therapy session offers versatile material to evaluate the success of language-aware practices. As the participants actively try to make their conversation inclusive, one may extract universal tips from their strategies and guidelines for also addressing linguistic asymmetry elsewhere. When interpreters allow clients to co-produce the target text, they create empowering multilingual encounters.
Alicja Fajfer is a Project Researcher at the University of Eastern Finland. She researches the linguistic insecurity that emerges in multilingual encounters.
English in the Nordic Countries: links to identity and exceptionalism
Elizabeth Peterson, FI
In this presentation, Elizabeth will give an overview of some of the main themes to emerge from the recently published volume English in the Nordic Countries: Connections, Tensions, and Everyday Realities (Peterson and Beers Fägersten, 2024), drawing in particular from the book’s final chapter. She will highlight some of the major areas covered in the volume, including historical and contemporary contacts with English, popular culture, domain loss, and the use of English in specific settings such as higher education, the workplace and the home. During the presentation, she will connect the book’s main themes to societal issues such as equity and inclusivity when it comes to the use of English in Nordic populations. The main points emphasized in the presentation will include the concept of Nordic-specific identities, ownership of English, and how these factors relate to the notion of Nordic exceptionalism (Peterson 2022).
Peterson, Elizabeth. 2022. “Views on ‘Good English’ and ‘Nordic Exceptionalism’ in Finland” in Alexander Onysko and Peter Siemund, (eds.). Englishes in a Globalized World: Exploring Contact Effects on Other Languages. Frontiers in Communication – Language Sciences. Epub 803922. Open access. Peterson, Elizabeth and Kristy Beers Fägersten (eds.). 2024. English in the Nordic Countries: Connections, Tensions, and Everyday Realities. New York, NY and Abingdon, UK: Routledge. Open access
Elizabeth Peterson is a Senior University Lecturer at the University of Helsinki, where she teaches courses and supervises research on variation in English, language attitudes, and language and gender. She is the director of the Kone Foundation-funded project Language Awareness and Ideologies in Finland. Her most recent publication, English in the Nordic Countries: Connections, Tensions, and Everyday Realities, is freely available as an Open Access book at www.routledge.com. She is also a frequent commentator on English in Finland and the Nordic Countries, for example as a podcast guest and in journalism interviews.
The Role of English in Translation into Finnish
Laura Ivaska, FI
In this talk, I will delve into the role of English in translations into Finnish, focusing on literary translation. After presenting a sketch of this role from the historical perspective, I will zoom in on a specific case study: the Keltainen kirjasto (‘Yellow library’) series of world literature in Finnish translation, which has been published by Tammi since 1954. To date, circa 550 translations have been published, and these include works by 30 Nobel laureates. As English has been the source language of over a half of these translations, this book series offers fertile ground for exploring the topic of this talk. Zooming further in on individual translations, I will reveal some interesting details about the translations’ processes. For instance, in some cases, English functions as the mediating or support language for a translation of a book originally published in some other language, such as Japanese or Modern Greek. This speaks for the important role of translation from English, not only does it enable English-language literature to be read in Finnish, but it also helps bring other literatures to the Finnish market
Laura Ivaska is a University Lecturer at the University of Turku where she teaches translation from English into Finnish and translation studies. She is also a postdoctoral researcher in the ‘Traces of Translation in the Archives’ project of the Finnish Literature Society (SKS). Her research interests include indirect translation, translation history, genetic translation studies and corpus-based translation studies. She recently co-edited the special issues of Target (2022), Perspectives (2023) and Translation Spaces (2023) on indirect translation. She is currently co-editing a volume entitled ‘Tekstit ympärillämme: Kirjoituksia tekstikäsityksistä ja -käytänteistä’ to be published later this year. She is also an editor of Mikael (the Finnish Journal of Translation and Interpreting Studies) and the Multilingual Website Editor of Target (the International Journal of Translation Studies).