FLL Gathers to Celebrate Scholarship at Book Reception - Georgetown College

Georgetown College’s Faculty of Languages and Linguistics (FLL) gathered on February 18 to celebrate the academic accomplishments of their colleagues in the first FLL Book Reception. The event, which offered faculty members with recently published books the chance to introduce their work to colleagues, reflected the scope of scholarship at Georgetown. Ten authors were honored, with twelve new books among them. Their works ranged widely from an academic analysis of the discourse on photography to an ethnographic study of the French juvenile court system to a fictional novel.

Professor Friederike Eigler, chair of the German department and convener of the FLL, organized the reception to celebrate the work of this community within the College. The FLL, a cornerstone of academics at Georgetown, is comprised of seven modern foreign language departments, the linguistics department, the classics department, and the program in comparative literature. More than one quarter of university undergraduates pursue a foreign language or linguistics as a major or minor.

Eigler acknowledged in her opening address that while the FLL holds many events throughout the year to collaborate on curriculum and teaching, the wide range of scholarship produced by the FLL should not be overlooked. “Over the years we haven’t had many events that focus on another important dimension of what the FLL does —namely, research,” she explained.

The books that were published in 2009 by members of the FLL testify to the program’s strength with both languages, and intercultural understanding. Kevin Doak, professor of East Asian languages and cultures, presented a book of historical analysis exploring what nationalism means in Japan. Assistant professor of Arabic Reem Bassiouney discussed her book on Arabic sociolinguistics, the first of its kind. Moreover, several of the texts penned by FLL authors were written in languages other than English, while others were translations to or from another language.

“The Faculty of Languages and Linguistics works in ways that are translingual and transcultural,” said Doak, noting his book’s translation into Japanese.

Georgetown is in a unique position to emphasize such cross-cultural communication because of its long tradition of excellence in language education and its overall international outlook. The FLL brings this mission to the forefront, through both its academic programs and the research of its professors.

At the FLL Book Reception, College Dean Chester Gillis offered a welcome speech celebrating the breadth of scholarship in languages and linguistics at Georgetown. Gillis disclosed that he reserves a bookshelf in his living room at home for books authored by Georgetown faculty, so that visitors may browse the variety of scholarship produced by professors.

“The way that you are known, and Georgetown is known, is through the vehicle of (your) books,” Gillis said.

Though this was the first year for this reception, it will likely not be the last. Eigler noted that the 2010 FLL Book Reception was to be the first annual FLL Book Reception. As the authors mingled with attendees, it was apparent that all were there out of support for one another and the goals of the FLL.

Mary Helen Dupree, assistant professor of German, attended the reception as an FLL colleague and as an interested academic. “It’s nice for everyone to come together and see what people in other departments are doing,” she noted.

And as Dupree works on a book of her own, her peers will undoubtedly come out in support when she presents her work at a future FLL Book Reception.

For more information about the FLL: http://college.georgetown.edu/programs/fll/

—Kara Burritt

Photo: FLL Book Reception honorees and Dean Chester Gillis. Courtesy of FLL and Conor O'Regan.