Call for Papers
The Fifteenth Conference on Orality and Literacy in the Ancient World will take place in Ada, Ohio (US) from 26 June – 29 June, 2024. Classicists, historians, students of comparative religion, the Hebrew Bible, early Christian and Rabbinic traditions, as well as scholars in other fields with an interest in oral cultures are cordially invited.
The conference will follow the same format as the previous conferences, held in Hobart (1994), Durban (1996), Wellington (1998), Columbia (2000), Melbourne (2002), Winnipeg (2004), Auckland (2006), Nijmegen (2008), Canberra (2010), Ann Arbor (2012), Atlanta (2014), Lausanne (2016), Austin (2019), and Jerusalem (2021). It is planned that the refereed proceedings will once again be published by E.J. Brill in the “Orality and Literacy in the Ancient World” series.
Location: Ada, Ohio, US (Ohio Northern University)
Dates: 26-29 June 2024
Theme: Special Grammar
Keynote: Rodrigo Verano, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
The theme for the conference is “Special Grammar”. Albert Lord used the phrase “special grammar” to refer to the verbal art used by South Slavic guslari, Homeric bards, and other performers of oral traditions and he asserted that this special grammar was an adaptation of practices in everyday conversation (Lord, Singer of Tales, 35-36). However, Lord’s intuitive insight requires further exploration, especially concerning this adaptation of ordinary talk; therefore, the conference theme is to explore the relationship between the special grammar of oral traditions and literature with roots in oral tradition in relationship to everyday conversation by drawing from other disciplines (cognitive linguistics, conversation analysis, philosophy of language, etc.). For a summary of selected secondary sources on "special grammar," see the entry from The Dictionary of the Bible and Ancient Media (Bloomsbury 2017)(attached above).
Papers in response to this theme have been accepted. See the preliminary schedule (attached above).
Conference fee: Registration will cover the cost of lunches, reception, and refreshments. $100.00
Accommodations: We have arranged a special rate at the Inn at Ohio Northern University of $127.15 per night for June 26-29. This rate includes breakfast.
https://reservations.travelclick.com/113953?groupID=3994451
Excursion: As at past conferences, we will visit a local place of interest. This year we will have a tour/nature walk of the Tidd-Oakes Farm led by Katherine Krynak and Elizabeth Tristano, two ONU biology faculty members. The Tidd-Oakes Farm is a 300-acre wetland restoration project bordering the Scioto River. The tour will include some discussion of the natural history of the area. The excursion is optional and will cost $18.00 (the cost of lunch at a nearby restaurant).
Conference dinner: The optional conference dinner will be at the Greenhorn in nearby Bluffton, OH, a vegan restaurant that is popular even with omnivores. Attendees will receive an incredible multi-course plant-based meal from local organically grown produce. Also included will be a flight of boutique wines from producers using only organic and biodynamic practices. $65 includes tax/gratuity.
Travel: Ohio Northern University is located some distance from a variety of airports (Toledo, OH; Columbus, OH; Detroit, MI; and Fort Wayne, IN are all within about 2 hours), but the most convenient is Dayton, OH. ONU will provide some transportation from the Dayton airport at the following times:
pickup at the Dayton airport: Tuesday, June 25, about 21:00 and Wednesday, June 26, about 12:00
drop off at the Dayton airport: Saturday, June 29, 14:30 and Sunday, June 30, 7:00 (allow one hour for getting through security)
Participants are invited to build their travel schedules around these pick up and drop off times. However, some participants (especially those using other airports) will need to provide their own transportation. Taxis, Uber, Lyft, etc. are expensive, so it is typically more cost-effective and convenient to rent a vehicle at the airport for one's entire stay.
Link for required registration ($100), including the optional excursion ($18) and optional conference dinner ($60).
https://payment.onu.edu/C21185_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=235