Dynamics of change between philology and linguistics

keynote speaker: Manuela Moroni e Paolo Squillacioti

20- 21 Gennaio 2027

AULA Magna, sede di S. Agostino Bergam

Keynote speakers

Manuela Moroni (Università degli studi di Bergamo)

Paolo Squillacioti (CNR-Opera del Vocabolario Italiano)

Scientific committee

Gabriele Cocco, Vittorio Ganfi, Valentina Piunno, Michele Cagnazzo, Teresina Faiferri, Atena Parolai, Mattia Petrogalli, Roberta Stracquadanio, Giulia Uberti

Introduction

The existence of a productive link between philology and linguistics is attested by a long tradition of studies. The examination of the written and oral heritage requires, on the one hand, the reconstructive methods typical of philology and, on the other, the analytical approaches that linguistics can apply both to texts and to oral records. This heritage may also benefit from paleographic and archival contributions, which are useful for a better understanding of the heritage.

The conference Dynamics of Change between Philology and Linguistics focuses on the theme of change, explored by the two disciplines through perspectives which are deeply interconnected, even though distinct. The notion of change addressed by the conference concerns concepts of language, culture, and heritage.

In the philological field, the study of textual traditions involves the analysis of the features related to the linguistic facies of the witnesses, which are intrinsically linked to the patterns of transmission and to the copying process. Hence the importance of examining formal variants and the problems resulting from the interaction between substratum and superstratum languages, as well as issues relating to a crucial phase in linguistic history: the transition from Latin to vernacular languages. This field includes, for instance, texts such as vernacular translations and adaptations. Furthermore, the tradition of a text may reveal an additional form of change: the existence of different stages, sometimes deriving from a movable original. As for the material aspect, most texts are transmitted through codices which, in addition to having been produced within a specific historical and cultural milieu, are characterized by distinct codicological features. Due to this, multiple issues call for reflection and contributions, also involving archival and paleographic examinations: fragmentation, reassembly, the loss of folios and pages, the reorganization of textual content, and so forth. Therefore, from a methodological point of view, philology approaches the concept of change by drawing on interdisciplinary resources, with the aim of producing not only reliable texts, but also sound reconstructions of a text’s history through its witnesses.

Change represents one of the main areas of investigation in linguistics, as it allows us to observe how languages transform in relation to historical, social, and cultural developments. From a synchronic perspective, change can manifest itself, for example, either through phenomena of language contact, such as borrowings, or through analogical processes and resemanticization. Furthermore, it can also be observed in phenomena such as lexical and semantic variations within complex linguistic repertoires. Linguistic variation also contributes to the construction of social, cultural, and geographical identities, which can be studied through the analysis of linguistic landscapes, language policies, and both short- and long-term accommodation processes. From a diachronic perspective, it is interesting to investigate the nature of change across different linguistic traditions, taking into account both intralinguistic and extralinguistic factors. From this perspective, it is possible to study, for example, phonological and morphological change, as well as the phenomena of lexicalization and grammaticalization. It is also interesting to investigate the diachronic changes induced by language contact, particularly evident among multilingual speakers, as well as the emergence of new readings of structures triggered by such contact.

Topics of special interest include:

• Vernacularizations and related issues;
• Texts circulating in different cultural contexts whose transmission involves changes;
• Problems posed by formal variants and linguistic variations within the tradition of a text;
• Cases of dismemberment, reassembly and dispersal of folios;
• Philological studies investigating the organization of textual materials linked to a particular tradition or a certain author (anthologies, canzonieri, collections, miscellanies, sagas, etc.);
• Contributions concerning multiple traditions attesting different stages of a text;
• Language contact from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives;
• Semantic change;
• Grammaticalization and lexicalization;
• Language policies and linguistic landscape, particularly in multilingual contexts;
• Intradialectal and interdialectal variation underlying processes of koineization.

How to apply

The call for abstracts is addressed to Ph.D. Students. To apply, please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words and a short essential bibliography. Proposals may be written either in Italian or English and will be considered for both presentation sessions and poster sessions. Presentations are scheduled to last 20 minutes. The deadline for submitting the application is 12^th October 2026. The file containing the abstract and the bibliography, without any identifying information, must be sent to the following email address: phd.conference.sfili@unibg.it. Please include in the email your name and current affiliation. Notification of acceptance will be sent by 16^th November 2026. For further enquiries or information, contact the following email address: phd.conference.sfili@unibg.it.

Key dates

Abstract submission deadline: 12^th October 2026.

Notification of acceptance: 16^th November 2026.

Conference dates: 20^th –21^st January 2027.