2025

AIA Winter School 18-20 February 2026 TRIESTE Narratives of Crisis

Narratives of Crisis Past and Present: Exploring Memory, Nostalgia and Transformations across Discourses University of Trieste  18-20 February 2026 The new AIA Winter School will take place at the University of Trieste from 18 February to 20 February 2026. This intensive three-day programme brings together leading voices in English Studies, with keynote talks from Esterino Adami (University of Torino), Chiara Battisti (University of Verona) and Robert Young (New York University). Invited experts, including Gino Scatasta (University of Bologna), Emma Sdegno (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice) and Nicoletta Vasta (University of Udine), will present on key topics in Linguistics and Translation, Literature, and Cultural Studies. These speakers will also lead interactive laboratory sessions designed to enhance participants’ practical skills. Please find the programme here The registration fee of €180 covers coffee breaks and lunches throughout the event, ensuring a comfortable and engaging experience for all participants. Payment must be made via PagoPA through this link between 2 January and 5 February 2026 (reason for payment: Your name – AIA Winter School 2026 – Università di Trieste). In addition, between 7 January and 10 February, please complete the related registration form you can find by clicking here. Regarding accommodation, both recommended hotels are located in the city centre and are within walking distance of the School venue. Please find contact details and indicative reduced rates below: Capitelli Hotel (https://www.hotelcapitelli.it – tel. 040 064 4221 ‒ approximately 25 rooms): €50–70 per night, depending on room type (double, triple or small apartments suitable for sharing). Urban Hotel (www.urbanhotel.it – tel. +39 040 302065): €105 per night. Our hosts, Roberta Gefter (roberta.gefter@units.it) and Piergiorgio Trevisan (ptrevisan@units.it), will be happy to suggest other accommodation options. Please feel free to contact them for further information. Finally, we are pleased to announce that, as in previous years, AIA will offer two €300 grants to eligible participants, encouraging broad participation in this valuable academic gathering. To apply and for info, write to aiasegreteria@unito.it Join us in Trieste for an opportunity to deepen your expertise, network with peers, and gain insights from leaders in English Studies!

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Research Seminars on ENGLISH STUDIES: AUDIOVISUAL TRANSLATION AND TECHNOLOGY 18 December 8-10 am

Università di Palermo, Aula Magna, Complesso universitario di Sant’Antonino, Centro Linguistico d’Ateneo Piazzetta Sant’Antonino, 1 – Palermo Welcome address: Concetta Giliberto – Head of the Department of Humanities Daniela Tononi – Director of the University Language Centre GIUSEPPE BALIRANO, University of Naples L’Orientale WHEN CRIMINALS SPEAK: AUDIOVISUAL TRANSLATION ON THE EDGE Chair: Giulia A. Pennisi, Department of Politics and International Relations – UniPA JORGE DÍAZ CINTAS, University College London THE OTT REVOLUTION AND ITS IMPACT ON AUDIOVISUAL TRANSLATION Chair: Alessandra Rizzo, Department of Humanities – UniPA

Research Seminars on ENGLISH STUDIES: AUDIOVISUAL TRANSLATION AND TECHNOLOGY 18 December 8-10 am Read More »

Call for Papers for the 8th International Translation Symposium University of Palermo, 23–24 April 2026 Artificial Intelligence and Audiovisual Translation: Challenges and New Horizons

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force across domains, reshaping professional practices, academic debates, and user experiences. Audiovisual Translation (AVT), with its multimodal and interdisciplinary nature, stands at the forefront of this transformation. AI-driven tools such as automatic speech recognition, machine translation, text-to-speech systems, synthetic voices and AI dubbing, among others, are redefining how AVT is conceived, produced, and consumed, from dubbing and subtitling to audio description (AD), subtitling for people who are d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing (SDH), voiceover, and live subtitling. The connection between AI and AVT is now central not only to advancing research, but also to forging sustainable ties with the AVT industry. Cloud-based platforms, automated workflows, and AI-enhanced translation environments are revolutionising professional practice while reshaping student training. Preparing the next generation of audiovisual translators requires embedding AI literacy, practical competence, and industry collaboration into curricula to ensure a smooth transition into the professional world. This conference invites scholars, students, practitioners, and industry stakeholders to explore, critically and concretely, the synergies and tensions between AI technologies and AVT. We aim to assess the state of the art, interrogate emerging challenges, and envision the future of AVT in a world increasingly shaped by automation and algorithmic mediation. Particular attention will be devoted to practical applications not only in the media and entertainment industries (film, television, streaming platforms, gaming), but also in the arts and cultural heritage sectors, such as museums, galleries, and live performance, where AI-enhanced AVT practices are opening unprecedented avenues for accessibility and cultural engagement. Focus will be also on the origins of the earliest chat systems within audiovisual and cinematic products. We welcome studies and research that foreground the historical significance of chats both as a digital tool and a writing/narrative device within audiovisual texts. Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:– AI in dubbing and voiceover: neural speech synthesis; synthetic voices; implications for authenticity, authorship, and reception.– AI in subtitling and SDH: automatic speech recognition; MT in subtitling; quality assurance; accessibility challenges.– AI in audio description: multimodal AI for scene understanding; automation in descriptive practice; cultural representation.– AI for the arts and cultural heritage: AVT applications in museums, galleries, and live performance mediation.– Multimodality in AVT research: how AI engages with diverse semiotic resources and reshapes multimodal translation practices.– Cloud-based ecosystems and industry connections: collaborative workflows; training opportunities; professional accreditations; professionalisation of students.– Accessibility and inclusion: AI as driver and/or barrier across global contexts.– Creativity vs automation: tensions between human expertise and machine-generated outputs.– Pedagogy and training: integrating AI in AVT curricula; fostering critical and creative skills; addressing resistance to change. – Ethics, agency, and power: copyright; data and voice ownership; bias in AI systems; socio-cultural consequences.– WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram, IRC, web chat in films, TV series, animated, films, documentaries, live broadcasts.– Historical perspective of web and digital systems as representative narrative tools in audiovisual products (e.g., IRC logs in 1990s films vs. WhatsApp/iMessage threads today).– Industry perspectives: how streaming platforms, LSPs, and tech providers incorporate AI in large-scale AVT projects.– User experience and reception studies: audience perception of AI-mediated dubbing, subtitling, and AD; impact on immersion and comprehension. Keynote Speakers and Distinguished GuestsThe conference is honoured to welcome leading national and international colleagues, whose presence will foster dialogue between established expertise, emerging research, and innovativepractice, including:Giuseppe Balirano (Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”, Italy) – President, Associazione Italiana di Anglistica (AIA)Frederic Chaume (Universitat Jaume I, Spain)Elena Di Giovanni (Università di Macerata, Italy)Jorge Díaz Cintas (University College London, UK)Margherita Dore (Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy)Serenella Massidda (Università di Chieti-Pescara, Italy)Irene Ranzato (Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy) – AIA Board Member Submission GuidelinesWe warmly invite scholars, researchers, practitioners, and industry stakeholders to submit an abstract of up to 300 words (excluding references) and a short bio (max. 150 words) via mail to alessandra.rizzo@unipa.it; gabriele.uzzo@unipa.it; marialuisa.pensabene@unipa.it. Proposals should engage with the conference themes and highlight original research, case studies, or professional experience. Please clearly indicate research objectives, methodology, and expectedresults. Important DatesEXTENDED Deadline for abstract submission: 07 January 2026Notification of acceptance: 31 January 2026Conference dates: 23–24 April 2026 Registration and FeesAccepted presenters and participants are required to register for the conference.Conference fee: €180,00 (includes access to all sessions, conference materials, and coffee/tea breaks).Registration fee applicable to PhD students: €90,00.ESIST members attending the conference as speakers will benefit from a reduced registration fee(€120,00). ESIST members attending as auditors will pay €150,00.Social dinner: €45,00.

Call for Papers for the 8th International Translation Symposium University of Palermo, 23–24 April 2026 Artificial Intelligence and Audiovisual Translation: Challenges and New Horizons Read More »

Proroga scadenza presentazione candidature e ampliamento data di pubblicazione – Premio Perosa 2026

Ci arriva dalla Segreteria del Premio Perosa il seguente messaggio: Gentili Autori,Gentili Editori, Viene ripubblicato il bando relativo alla seconda edizione del “Premio di anglistica Sergio Perosa”. Il termine per la presentazione di opere pubblicate nel triennio 2023-2025 è differito al 31 gennaio 2026. La locandina dell’iniziativa, che può essere stampata, affissa e liberamente diffusa tra i vostri contatti o inoltrata a chiunque possa esserne interessato, è allegata alla presente comunicazione o può essere scaricato cliccando qui. Il modulo di iscrizione e il regolamento di partecipazione sono disponibili al seguente link: Il Premio Sergio Perosa 2026 Cordiali saluti,La segreteria del Premio

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CONFERENCE PROGRAMME AND LINKS (Im)politeness on Stage Monday 15-Tuesday 16 December, 2025 University of Naples L’Orientale

(Im)politeness plays a crucial role in the analysis of dramatic dialogue, revealing complex aspects of characterization, plot development, and the underlying structure of social harmony or discord. The ways in which characters deploy impoliteness strategies on stage provide insights into power dynamics, relationships, and the negotiation of social boundaries. Beyond its narrative function, impoliteness also serves as an important theatrical tool: it can enhance entertainment, generate humour, and, in the case of mock impoliteness, even express intimacy, affect, or strategic cunning. By integrating linguistic, pragmatic, and multimodal approaches, scholars can explore the full range of strategies through which (im)politeness operates in drama—whether in written scripts, staged performances, or filmed versions. Join us online: Day 1 (15 December) – https://tinyurl.com/StageDay1 Day 2 (16 December) – https://tinyurl.com/StageDay2 Keynote Speakers: Derek Bousfield (Manchester Metropolitan University), Massimiliano Morini (University of Urbino). Organising and Scientific Committee: Valentina Vetri, Bianca Del Villano, Chiara Ghezzi, Roberto Esposito, Mariaconcetta Mirto, Emma Pasquali, Aoife Beville.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME AND LINKS (Im)politeness on Stage Monday 15-Tuesday 16 December, 2025 University of Naples L’Orientale Read More »

Call for Papers – Narrating Conflict and Human Rights: Literature as Witness, Archive and Agent of Change European Journal of English Studies, volume 31 (2027)

Guest editors: Tomasz Kalaga (Kujawy and Pomorze University in Bydgoszcz), Tiziana Ingravallo (University of Foggia), Loredana Salis (University of Sassari) The realities of conflict, including violations of human rights and the struggle for peace, provide rich thematic material for literary works. Literature can serve as a powerful tool for social change by denouncing injustices, fostering empathy, and engaging with injustices via its negotiation of the concepts of truth, reconciliation, and transitional justice. Writers can challenge official narratives surrounding conflict by giving voice to marginalised perspectives, exposing human rights abuses to a wider audience, and making invisible suffering visible. Literature, as an advocate for social change and human rights, raises awareness of ongoing conflicts and offers alternative understandings of historical events and their consequences. Operating through its innate symbolic quality and the power of telling and retelling myths, it can be approached as a dynamic arena capable of unsettling dominant epistemologies, reconfiguring what could be collectively claimed as justice. As a counter-discourse to official histories, literature has the potential to offer new ways of restoring a sense of humanity and shared responsibility by condemning all forms of imperialism and totalitarianism. This issue will reflect on and explore ways in which conflict can be narrated and the extent to which texts of literature contribute to defending or violating human rights. It also reflects on how language can justify and/or ignore human rights transgressions. The issue takes an interest in articles that investigate the ability of literary texts to interrogate and explore the legacies of political and civil conflict around the world as well as creating and (unwittingly) reinforcing hegemonic narratives. We welcome essays on a wide range of genres, including fiction, poetry, drama, memoir, testimony, speculative and activist writing, as well as works in translation, adaptation, journalism, and visual or digital storytelling. Although articles can address any topic related to literature and human rights, we are keen to receive proposals on five interrelated areas of literary engagement: a) literary depictions of experiences of war, displacement, surveillance, disenfranchisement, or environmental destruction; b) the role of literature in defining and articulating the concept of justice, documenting abuses, bearing witness to trauma, and narrating resistance and reconciliation; c) literary negotiations of power dynamics in conflict settings, including propaganda literature, translation and adaptation of conflict narratives, portrayals of nationalism and resistance movements, and the symbolic language of conflict and resolution; d) the concept of literature as magistra vitae in which historical insight is intertwined with visions of a more just future; e) narrative forms shaped by conflict, including fragmented storytelling and genre innovation, as well as activist literature addressing the intersections of human rights, environmental destruction, and the more-than-human world. Possible topics include (but are not limited to): ● Activist literature: from human rights violations to environmental destruction ● Activist role of literature: models for socio-cultural transformations, inclusive societies, transnational belongings ● Beyond the anthropocentric: rights of species, rivers, forests ● Censorship and dissent: literature as subversion and alternative standpoint ● Entanglements of ecology and power: resource wars, extractivism, forced displacement ● Individual freedom and human dignity vs human rights violations, surveillance, oppression, disenfranchisement ● Journalism, conflict and human rights ● Literature and justice: shaping and reshaping the notion of what is or can be just ● Literary depictions of ecological trauma and conflict: decolonial and indigenous perspectives, ● Literature as an archive of environmental injustice: resistance narratives, testimonies and speculative fiction and non-fiction. ● Magistra vitae: when history and hope rhyme ● Narrating nationalism, nationalists and nationalist causes ● Postcolonial and decolonial perspectives: alternative epistemologies of justice, restitution, and ecological interconnectedness ● Post-traumatic memory ● Propaganda literature ● The language of conflict and conflict resolution: myths and symbols retold ● The role of human rights in research on law and literature ● Translation and adaptation Detailed proposals (up to 1,000 words) for full essays (6,000-8,000 words) as well as a short biography (max. 100 words) should be sent to the editors by 15 January 2026: Tomasz Kalaga (t.kalaga @kpsw. edu. pl), Tiziana Ingravallo (tiziana. ingravallo @unifg. it), and Loredana Salis (lsalis@uniss.it). Selected authors should be able to submit a full-length draft by the end of May 2026, and a final version by mid-September. This issue will be part of volume 31 (2027). All inquiries regarding this issue can be sent to the three guest editors.

Call for Papers – Narrating Conflict and Human Rights: Literature as Witness, Archive and Agent of Change European Journal of English Studies, volume 31 (2027) Read More »

New publication: The Bloomsbury Handbook of Anglophone Literature and Migration – Critical and Creative Voices (1946-2016)

edited by Nicoletta Vallorani, Simona Bertacco, William Boelhower Focusing on a significant 70-year period as a climactic phase of displacement, the book investigates the role of literature in producing new modes of representing and understanding migration in a global context. Globally felt and reported as a geographical, sociological, anthropological, and historical phenomenon, migration has produced an unprecedented corpus of literary narratives that demands to be approached through its own set of cross-disciplinary critical approaches. This Handbook explores tales of migration via a systematic study of the large corpus of Anglophone literary texts that have been written by migrant authors and/or on the topic of migration between 1946 and 2016-from the start of the United Nations International Migration Report to the first year in which the number of displaced people reached the level of the Second World War, marking a new phase in global migrations. Given the dominance of English as a world language, often used by writers who are not native speakers, the volume covers Anglophone writing, providing a substantially representative corpus that includes texts from or about Europe, Africa, North and Central America, and the South Asia and Pacific region. Starting from a critical approach that is inherently interdisciplinary, authors consider the notion of the border and how it has changed over time; show how traditional literary genres have morphed and hybridized to become suitable expressive tools for the new stories of migration; reflect on how the movement across borders and countries creates migrant identities that are not only linguistic but invests all aspects of one’s life and worldview; and includes authors’ voices (a small but representative group) to both justify and test the critical approaches proposed. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/bloomsbury-handbook-of-anglophone-literature-and-migration-9798765103524

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Oscar Wilde e le arti – Giornata di studi

La Italian Oscar Wilde Society si è tenuta la giornata di studi dal titolo “Oscar Wilde e le arti”, che si terrà il prossimo 1 dicembre – Aula Leogrande del Centro Polifunzionale Studenti, 9-18 La giornata rappresenta un omaggio a Wilde in occasione del 125° anniversario della sua morte (30 novembre 1900) ed esplora il dialogo fecondo tra l’opera di Wilde e i linguaggi artistici che ne hanno accompagnato la ricezione tra XIX e XXI secolo.Studiose e studiosi di fama internazionale provenienti da università italiane (Pisa, Bologna, IUAV) e straniere (Bath University, Dublin City University) e da  diverse discipline — English Studies, popular music e performance studies — illustreranno come l’estetismo wildiano abbia influenzato pratiche creative, modelli di raffigurazione e forme di sperimentazione estetica in ambito teatrale (Stoppard), cinematografico (Haynes, Everett) e musicale (Bowie, Reed, Morrissey). “Oscar Wilde e le arti” ha dunque interrogato il rapporto tra testo, suono e immagine, ovvero le riscritture teatrali, filmiche e musicali della sua opera, la dimensione performativa dell’identità, nonché la persistenza del mito di Wilde nella popular culture contemporanea. Il simposio intende così mettere in luce la dimensione transmediale e interdisciplinare della legacy wildiana, offrendo nuove prospettive critiche sull’attualità artistica e culturale del grande scrittore anglo-irlandese.

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“The Awakening of Enceladus: A Transdisciplinary Inquiry into Geological Risk and Disaster”

From December 17th to 19th, 2025, the international conference The Awakening of Enceladus: A Transdisciplinary Inquiry into Geological Risk and Disaster will be held in Pisa. The conference represents an important milestone in the P.R.I.S.M.A. project, from which this event will draw new impulses for the development of future research. The research project P.R.I.S.M.A. – Pondering Risk and Imagining Resilience: A Digital Atlas of Seismic and Volcanic Events in Literature is the winner of the Return cascading grant for Spoke 3-VS3 “Earthquakes and Volcanoes” and is coordinated by Professor Biancamaria Rizzardi (Department of Philology, Literature and Linguistics, University of Pisa). Through a transdisciplinary dialogue on geological risk, resilience, perception and memory of disaster, the event aims to highlight how different methodologies and languages can contribute to risk education and the creation of an integrated critical perspective, capable of reading, representing, and addressing with awareness and responsibility the challenges posed by the environmental, social, and cultural risks of our time. The conference brings together scholars from multiple disciplines and combines forms of knowledge that range from the empirical observation of the territory and seismic and volcanic phenomena to the reflection on the sociocultural, symbolic, and linguistic dimensions of risk. The programme of the event comprises meetings with writers and artists, three keynote lectures, and six thematic sessions, whose titles evoke the plurality of approaches in dialogue: Gaia, Prometheus, Mnemosyne, Typhon, Atlas, and Hephaestus. ● Gaia spans across philosophy, ecology, and theology, reflecting on the ethical and spiritual bond between human beings and the Earth, which is understood as a living organism; ● Prometheus explores the languages and narratives of disaster in media, literature, and linguistics; ● Mnemosyne delves into history, memory, and language, investigating the relationship between calamity, trauma, and resilience; ● Typhon opens to a psychoanalytic and symbolic perspective, investigating the planetary unconscious and human fragility in the face of catastrophic phenomena; ● Atlas interrogates art, literature, and philosophy to explore the symbolic weight of catastrophe in European culture; ● Hephaestus addresses the social, scientific, and juridical dimensions of risk, with special attention to global responses to disasters. The six sessions combine literary, linguistic, philosophical, artistic, theological, juridical, psychological, and scientific perspectives, offering a shared reflection on disaster as a form of knowledge and collective memory. Furthermore, during the conference the digital atlas L.A.V.A. – Literary Atlas of Volcanic and seismic Activities will be presented. Keynote Lectures: David Alexander (University College London); Frank Westerman (Writer and Freelance Journalist, The Netherlands); Isak Winkel Holm (University of Copenhagen). Conversations with the writers: Elleke Boehmer (University of Oxford) and Esther Kinsky (Kleist Prize 2022). Performance Lecture: “I Am a Disaster” by Matteo Belli (actor, playwright, and theatre director, Bologna). Speakers: Henry Albert (Chimera Project); Carla Benedetti (University of Pisa); Matteo Bettini (Chimera Project); Alice Bisio (Chimera Project); Roberto Bondì (University of Calabria); Domenico Cecere (University of Naples Federico II); Fausto Ciompi (University of Pisa); Virginia De Micco (psychoanalyst and national coordinator of GruppoPER – SPI); Elena Dell’Agnese (University of Milan-Bicocca); Piero Di Domenico (Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna); Marcello Di Filippo (University of Pisa); Francesco Fiorentino (University Roma Tre); Marina Foschi (University of Pisa); Michela Lazzeroni (University of Pisa); Mons. Giuseppe Lorizio (Pontifical Lateran University, Rome); Matteo Marcheschi (CNR- ILIESI, Rome); Sofia Morabito (University of Pisa); Stefano Parolai (University of Trieste); Federico Poni (Chimera Project); Claudia Principe (CNR-IGG, Pisa Branch); Biancamaria Rizzardi (University of Pisa); Giovanni Sampaolo (University Roma Tre); Chiara Savettieri (University of Pisa); Niccolò Scaffai (University of Siena); Arianna Soldati (North Carolina State University); Carlo Tirinanzi De Medici (University of Pisa); Tania Zulli (University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara). Chairs and Moderators: Giovanni Bassi (University of Bari “Aldo Moro”); Rita Calabrese (University of Salerno); Andrea Carosso (University of Turin); Alberto Casadei (University of Pisa); Pierfrancesco Dellino (University of Bari “Aldo Moro”; Spoke Leader PNRR RETURN – Spoke 3-VS3 “Earthquake and Volcanoes”); Marina Foschi (University of Pisa); Fabrizio Franceschini (University of Pisa); Flavio Gregori (Ca’ Foscari University, Venice); Angelo Monaco (University of Bari “Aldo Moro”); Biancamaria Rizzardi (University of Pisa); Antonietta Sanna (University of Pisa); Valérie Tosi (University of Pisa). SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE: Biancamaria Rizzardi, Stefano Brugnolo, Fausto Ciompi, Marina Foschi, Michela Lazzeroni, Carlo Tirinanzi De Medici (University of Pisa). ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Elena Bastianoni, Silvy Boccaletti, Chiara Cernicchiaro, Francesco De Sorbo, Sofia Mangiaterra, Benedetta Rosi, Valérie Tosi (University of Pisa). Contacts: prismaconference@fileli.unipi.it Venues: Aula Magna Storica, University of Pisa, Palazzo della Sapienza, Via Curtatone e Montanara, 15 (17th December 2:30 PM). Auditorium of Palazzo Blu, Lungarno Gambacorti, 9, Pisa (December 18th 19th). Sponsors: University of Pisa, Fondazione Return, Funded by the European Union NextGenerationEU, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Italiadomani National Recovery and Resilience Plan, FILELI (Department of Philology, Literature and Linguistics – Department of Excellence, University of Pisa), CFS (Department of Civilization and Forms of Knowledge – Department of Excellence, University of Pisa), University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, ANDA (Italian National Association of English Studies), AIA (Italian Association of Anglistics), AISNA (Italian Association of North American Studies), AIG (Italian Association of German Studies), AGEI (Association of Italian Geographers), Compalit (Association for the Study of Comparative Literature Theory and History), AISCLI (Italian Association of Studies on English-language Cultures and Literature), AISC, Italian Alexander von Humboldt Association, CLI (Language Center Pisa), SBA (University Library System, University of Pisa).

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