Workshops 2013

Date: 16.12–17.12.2013
Location: University of Zurich

Description: This workshop explored forms and functions of spatial reference in electronic communication. Using data from virtual 3D environments (e.g., Second Life, online games), discussions focused on how participants navigate these spaces, view interactions (e.g., from an egocentric perspective), and refer to space linguistically. The workshop also examined text-based screen interactions within virtual spaces, where spatial concepts are crucial, evident in terms like "chat room" and spatial deixis (e.g., "above," "below").

Invited Speakers: Michael Beißwenger, Maximiliane Frobenius, Margarete Jahrmann, Miriam Locher, Ulrich Schmitz, and David Weibel
Organizers: Manuel Berger, Christa Dürscheid, and Andreas H. Jucker

Date: 16.12–17.12.2013
Location: University of Zurich

Description: This workshop served as a discussion forum for research on the semantics and morphosyntactic encoding of the mass-count distinction, focusing on Romance and Germanic languages. Topics included determiners, partitive articles, indefinite articles with mass nouns, and gender effects on mass vs. count readings, with attention to areal distribution where possible.

Invited Speakers: Diane Massam and Manfred Krifka
Organizers: Elisabeth Stark, Natascha Pomino, Elvira Glaser, and David Gerards

Date: 25.11–26.11.2013
Location: University of Zurich

Description: This workshop analyzed how architectural spaces (e.g., church, classroom, chemistry lecture hall, recording studio, exhibition hall) create foundational resources for visibility, audibility, accessibility, and movement, and how these are used and processed in linguistic interactions. Participants included members of the “Interactional Spaces” research group and architecture experts.

Invited Speakers: Ulrich Dausendschön-Gay, Lorenza Mondada, Florence Oloff, Eva-Maria Putzier, and Reinhold Schmitt
Organizers: Heiko Hausendorf, Wolfgang Kesselheim, and Reinhold Schmitt (IDS Mannheim

DownloadArbeitspapier UFSP SpuR Nr. 1 (PDF, 7 MB).

 

Date: 05.06.2013
Location: University of Zurich

Description: This workshop focused on the spread of linguistic features, especially within dialect continua. Jürgen E. Schmidt (University of Marburg) introduced the concept with a talk on "Language Dynamics and Structural Boundaries," followed by discussions and input presentations, including Elvira Glaser on Labov’s concepts of transmission and diffusion, and Guido Seiler (LMU Munich) on a grammar model for variant spread. Key topics included morphosyntactic diffusion and distinctions between dialect continuum spread and language contact.

Invited Speakers: Jürgen E. Schmidt (Marburg) and Guido Seiler (Munich)
Organizers: Elvira Glaser and Anja Hasse

 

Date: 25.03–26.03.2013
Location: University of Zurich

Description: This workshop focused on the relationship between interaction and the architecture of built, furnished, and equipped spaces. Discussions examined how architectural features contribute to or hinder successful interaction, exploring spaces such as churches, classrooms, chemistry labs, radio studios, exhibition halls, and living spaces through specific case studies.

Invited Speakers: Ulrich Dausendschön-Gay, Lorenza Mondada, Florence Oloff, Eva-Maria Putzier, and Reinhold Schmitt
Organizers: Heiko Hausendorf, Wolfgang Kesselheim, and Reinhold Schmitt (IDS Mannheim)