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English in Asia and Europe’s Asia Competence

International Conference May 9 – 12, 2012, at Freie Universität

№ 47/2012 from Mar 09, 2012

The future of the English language and the influence its use in Asia is having on the further development of English will be addressed at an international conference to be held from May 9 to 12, 2012, at Freie Universität Berlin. Researchers from Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Brunei, the United Kingdom, Rumania, Hungary, and Australia, as well as from Freie Universität and other German and European universities are expected to attend. Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, is also involved in the conference. Interested members of the public are welcome to attend, and there is no registration fee, even for non-university participants. Advance registration is requested, however. The conference language is English.

The future of English is related to its status and use in Asia. Currently, the largest number of users of English comes from Asia, and this seems to be on the increase. At the same time, the question arises as to whether English is sufficient as the only language in use for the developing relationship between Europe and Asia in business, politics, science, and culture. Which variant of English is being used in each case? Participants at the conference "English in Asia and Europe’s Asia Competence" will address these issues.

Other aspects are the diversity of English in Asia as a carrier of new cultural values, the diversity of Asia in the Anglophone literature from Asie, and language and education policy. The conference look at the Asia competence that Europe needs as well as the Europe competence already in place in Asia, and also refer to Europe competence that will be required by Asia. The conference is being supported by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft).

Advance Registration

Time and Locations

  • May 9 (Registration starts at 3 p.m.) to May 12, 2012
  • May 9, Henry Ford Building, Freie Universität Berlin, Garystraße 35, Senate Meeting Room,
    14195 Berlin; subway station: Thielplatz (U3)
  • May 10 – 12, Seminar Center, Habelschwerdter Allee 45,
    (side entrance on Otto-von-Simson Straße), 14195 Berlin; subway station: Thielplatz or Dahlem-Dorf (U3)

Further Information

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Leitner, Institute for English Language and Literature, Freie Universität Berlin, Tel.: +49 (0)30 / 838-72325, Email: english-asia-conf@anglistik.fu-berlin.de