Special Topics: Issue 41

A New Horizon for Sinophone Studies: Linguistic Hybridization, Insertion, and Euphonic Coexistence

Sinophone studies, a diversified field integrating diaspora, postcolonial, and ethnic studies first expounded by Chinese-American academic Shu-mei Shih, provides a systematic and multidisciplinary approach to framing, understanding, and interpreting knowledge in contemporary literary and cultural research. However, while issues salient to this field are being addressed in a growing number of studies, most research to date has adopted a mono-linguistic lens (i.e., Mandarin or other Sinitic family language). In light of this, special topic of this issue has been designed specifically to highlight and elucidate the diversity and pluralism inherent in the “Chinese” language. 

For this issue, Journal of Taiwan Literature Studies is collaborating with the Association for Taiwan Literature in a call for papers addressing the theme “A New Horizon for Sinophone Studies: Linguistic Hybridization, Insertion, and Euphonic Coexistence”. Specific topics of interest include:

1. Languages used in the writing of classic works of literary history
2. Linguistic hybridization and insertion in “mother-tongue” literature
3. Theatrical-feature and documentary films presented primarily in national / official languages
4. The context and application of Guoyu in Taiwan history: From “standard” to “hybridized” Mandarin
5. Genre-blending in Taiwan literature (e.g., realism x fantasy, young-adult x historical fiction, romance x historical fiction, and new immigrant literature x autobiographical narratives)   
6. Pop songs, folk ballads, and traditional opera ditties: Linguistic hybridization and rejuvenation
7. The translation of Japanese-language works by colonial-era authors
8. Taiwan literature education and research: Adaptation and response to Taiwan’s Development of National Languages Act 

 (proposed deadline for paper submissions: June 30^th, 2025)