Call for papers

The Historical English Analysis and Research Tradition Conference (HEART) aims to gather specialists in English mediaeval language, literature, and culture. It will be held in person 11-12.04.2025 at the Faculty of Modern Languages in Warsaw. It offers a platform for interdisciplinary exchange on the research methods and new interpretations of the materials dated up to 1700.

The first HEART conference commemorates the one-thousandth anniversary of the coronation of Bolesław the Brave, the first crowned king of Poland, which probably took place in April, 1025 in Gniezno.

Bolesław the Brave, like Saint Stephen I of Hungary, belonged to the generation of kings who established the foundations of Central Europe. Canute the Great, the king of England, Denmark, and Norway, and possibly Bolesław’s nephew, epitomizes the common fate of the peoples from the northern part of the continent. The reigns of these great kings had an impact on political history but also on the development of the culture, literature, and languages of nations that still exist today. The now-lost crown of Bolesław the Brave, as well as the crown of Saint Stephen, kept in Budapest, are symbols of fate and aspirations of the countries of Central Europe – the Middle Kingdoms, as they were called by the British historian Martin Rady.

This historical perspective underlies our ambition to bring into contact the various perspectives on medievalist research in the field of linguistics as well as literary and cultural studies simultaneously emphasising the continuity and distinctive nature of collective academic achievement in Poland and the whole of central Europe.

We welcome proposals on any topic related to aspects of linguistic, literary, and cultural research on English up to 1700, including, but not limited to, historical phonology, morphology and syntax, semantics and pragmatics, lexical studies, language contact, manuscript studies, linguistic variation, language change, Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern literature, the orality/literacy nexus, courtly and chivalric culture, medievalism after 1700, esp. in modern fantasy, as well as reflection on the concept of kingship and the coronation ritual. 

A proposal for a 20-minute presentation should be a 300-word abstract (exclusive of references). An abstract should clearly state research questions, the approach, method, data, and results. Abstracts should also list three to five keywords.  It is expected that any paper presented at the HEART Conference is original and has not been previously presented or published.

In addition, we welcome proposals for thematic sessions. Each session should include three related papers that explore a common theme or topic within the scope of the conference. Proposals for thematic sessions should include a 200-word summary of the overall theme, highlighting its relevance and significance to the field, as well as individual 300-word abstracts for each of the three papers.

All proposals should be sent in .doc or .docx format to: heart.conference25@gmail.com.

The deadline for proposals is 30 November 2024. 

Submissions will be subjected to a peer-review process. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by mid January.

Conference fee: 100 euros

If you have any questions or queries please get in touch with our secretaries: heart.conference25@gmail.com

In the body of the email, please include the following information: title of paper, name of author, scientific degree, affiliation, research area (linguistics or literature).

We hope to see you in Warsaw in April!