SPECIAL ISSUE: The role of languages in the world: Linguistic, literary and cultural dynamics in the construction of identities

Posted on 2026-02-03

Call for papers

The connection between culture, language, and identity has long attracted the attention of sociologists, historians, linguists, and researchers from various scientific fields. As language is fundamental to human communication, it is regarded as a human necessity, not only for interaction but also as a vehicle of culture that reflects the society in which it exists and its cognitive universe(s) (Arslan et al., 2024).

For centuries, identity construction was tied to geographical boundaries, class struggle, power dynamics, and the maintenance of the status quo, just as languages have played an undeniable role in society in defining and consolidating political, social, and cultural identities. On the one hand, languages have a resilient ability to define national boundaries; on the other, they can open space for horizons that transcend those boundaries. The importance of language as a defining element of cultural identity was introduced in the 18th century by the German philosopher J. V. Herder who, in opposition to the cosmopolitan predicaments of the Enlightenment and as a reaction to the discrimination faced by Germany (Bavaria), emphasized the role of language, ethnicity, ancestral myths and rituals, and other cultural specificities that distinguish one nation from another. This approach contributed to the political affirmation of many ethnic-cultural and linguistic minority communities, challenging the assumption that territorial extension legitimises nationhood.

The concept of identity has evolved since the French Revolution, taking on an increasingly central role in the social sciences and humanities, as it is deeply tied to how individuals and social groups perceive themselves and are perceived in various contexts. Today, identity is understood not only as a dynamic concept but also as a multifaceted one, which Hall already classified in 1990 as a production “which is never complete, always in process, and always constituted within, not outside, representation” (p. 222). Additionally, “Identities are sets of meanings that define who we are in terms of the roles we have, the groups or social categories to which we belong, or the unique characteristics that make us different from others,” as Burke (2020) argues.

Therefore, it is undeniable that identity is shaped by various factors, with language, literature, and culture playing fundamental roles in this ongoing construction. The interaction between these dimensions not only defines individual and collective identity but also influences the social and historical dynamics of contemporary societies. These reflections on the role of language and culture in identity construction lead us to ask several questions. Who are we? What are we like? Are we today what we won’t be tomorrow? Or in one place but not another? How are we represented in different literary discourses? How does globalisation interfere with identity construction? What impact will Artificial Intelligence have on our future identity?

In this context, and following the 6th International Conference of Foreign Languages, under the theme Linguistic, Literary and Cultural Dynamics in the Construction of Identities, EDUSeR invites researchers to submit articles that critically explore these intersections and contribute to the debate on the multiple forms of identity construction in the Humanities.

  1. Language and national identity: the role of majority and minority languages
  2. Language policy and the influence of languages on cultural identity
  3. Globalisation and the influence of majority languages on cultural identity
  4. Language and power: discourse, dominance, and resistance
  5. Crossed Affiliations: language, literature, and culture as reflections of identity
  6. Literature as a space for self-construction of identity
  7. Literature and the perception of the Other: literary imagology
  8. Identity and cultural memory: tangible and intangible heritage
  9. Mass culture and its relationship with foreign language teaching
  10. Translation challenges in the construction of identities
  11. Linguistic, semiolinguistic, and didactic reflections on the teaching of literatures, cultures, and foreign languages
  12. Higher education: ethics and foreign language identity amid the rise of AI

Editors of the Special Issue:

  • Cláudia Martins
  • Elisabete Mendes Silva
  • Isabel Chumbo
  • Alexia Dotras Bravo
  • Ana Maria Alves

 

Deadline for submission: 30 June

Blind Peer Review: until 30 November

Final Version: 31 December

Expected publication date: March 2027

Accepted Languages: Portuguese, English, French and French