The 11th International Conference of the Asian Association for Lexicography (ASIALEX 2017) will be held at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) in Guangzhou, China from the 10th to the 12 of June 2017. This conference will mark the 20th anniversary of ASIALEX. For inquiries regarding paper submission requirements and registration procedures, use the following email address: asialex2017@126.com.
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Why we change our names
About 22,000 Canadians change their names each year. This article about changed names, discusses the many issues behind an individual’s decision to go through this bureaucratic process. The author interviews both Diane Dechief, former vice-president of the Canadian Society for the Study of Names, and Dr. Iman Nick, president of the American Name Society.
Controversy over Blackfoot names for new Calgary development
Canadian Council members recently decided to name the streets of an up and coming development adjacent to Canada’s Olympic Park in honor Calgary’s rich indigenous history. After consultation with Blackfoot elders in the area, several toponyms were selected. Although the idea itself was initially applauded by Canadians both inside and outside of the Blackfoot community, an unexpected debate subsequently erupted over the language to be used for the street names. While some would prefer English translations, others argue that the Blackfoot originals should be used instead. Read more about this onomastic controversy.
Names exhibit in Nashville, TN explores identity and prejudice
Donna Woodley’s pop-up exhibition “What’s in a Name?” explores African-American identity and the prejudices in today’s society through names. Why should names like Sarah and Elizabeth be recognized and acceptable spellings by spell-checkers when LaKeisha and Shanica are not?
This event is at Fond Object, 1313 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37216 through October 8th.
Word Meaning Workshop, University of the Basque Country, November 2-3, 2016
From the 2nd to the 3rd of November 2016, the University of the Basque Country will hold an international workshop devoted to examining the underlying meaning of words. The workshop will provide a discursive platform for scholars in the fields of linguistics, pragmatics, philosophy and cognitive science to share their unique scientific perspectives on word meaning. A special focus will be placed on polysemy and the nature of word meaning representation.
Cartographers’ Guild Discussion Forum on Toponymy and Lingustics
Interested in discussing all things related to maps, map makers, and place names? Then check out the Cartographers’ Guild and its discussion forum “Toponymy and Linguistics.”
No Name-Calling Week – Registration Open
Registration is open for elementary, middle, or high school officials to join a growing partnership of scholastic organizations who plan to join hands in collective celebration of the “No Name-Calling Week”. Scheduled for the 16th to the 20th of January 2017, this week was originally created by GLSEN (Gay-Straight Alliances) and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and now consists of more than 60 different national partner organizations.
Emerging Trend of “Post Gender” Baby Naming
Over the past few decades, the artificial color line dividing babies into blue and pink camps has gradually eroded in US society. This development is clearly evident in the names parents have been increasingly selecting for their newborns. According to Pamela Redmond Satran, the founder of Nameberry, one of the world’s leading onomastic websites, one of the hottest trends for 2016 is “post gender” naming (i.e. not constricting the selection of a baby’s name on rigid constructions of what is masculine or feminine). The New York Times recently covered this developing trend.
Culinary Onomastics
They call em aubergines, courgettes, and haricot beans. We call em eggplants, zucchini, and navy beans. Which names came first? Why is there such a difference between food names in British and American English? Check out the Oxford Dictionaries’ answers to these and other onomastic culinary conundrums.
Zooborns.com – Animal Naming Contests
There might be websites that are cuter, but probably not many. At zooborns.com, visitors can catch the latest news (plus adorable photos) of baby animals born in the zoos and aquariums around the world. The site also provides details about special contests (past and present) run by zoo officials looking for new names for their bundles of joy. For example, visitors to the site can read all about the naming of the Asiatic Lion cub triplets, Kali, Sita, and Sonika in Great Britain’s Cotswold Wildlife Park. Some of the most recent fur babies who are looking for a name include a baby Bonobo born in the Jacksonville Zoo (USA), a wildcat kitten born in Chester Zoo (Scotland), and a female European lynx kitten born in Zoo Wroclaw (Poland).