Modern Languages Discipline+ Catalyst

The Modern Languages Catalyst runs an annual researcher-led training programme that draws on the expertise of dozens of staff in ML disciplines across Scotland, as well as that of external partners and distinguished guest speakers. Our aim is to nurture a Scotland-wide community in which PGR students in Modern Languages can share experiences, discuss ideas and develop their skills.

While our events are discipline-specific in that they are aimed at doctoral students based in ML departments, they embrace the inherent diversity and interdisciplinarity of this cohort by facilitating academic conversations about a broad range of cultural, social and technical topics. Some workshops adopt the style of a masterclass, allowing students the rare opportunity to work in a small group with an acclaimed international expert in the field, while other sessions are larger in scope and facilitate networking and relationship-building. Recent events, for example, have focused on writing about subjectivity, on working with a variety of visual media, on reading premodern texts, and on theory in translation. In all our activities, we want to provide a friendly and informal forum for exchange, and to work flexibly and collaboratively in order to meet the evolving needs of the Modern Languages PGR community.

Upcoming Events

• Corpus technology for linguistic research 12 March 2025

  This session will address the relevance of corpus methodologies for translation studies. Participants will learn how to use the Sketch Engine interface to build corpora and how to conduct research in monolingual and parallel corpora. 

  Contact: Dr Marion Winters m.winters@hw.ac.uk

• Space, Territory, Planning, Culture: Interdisciplinary Methodologies May 2024

  This workshop will allow participants to engage with methodologies and theoretical approaches to studying urban spaces and societies, as well as exploring the linguistic, cultural and affective dimensions of place-based research.

  Contact: Dr Tara Beaney tara.beaney@abdn.ac.uk

• Queering Modern Languages 25 June 2025 (as part of SGSAH Summer School) (Details tbc)
  

  This workshop offers the opportunity to reflect upon working queerly and using queer theory as a critical framework within Modern Languages, with an emphasis on themes such as critical framing, pronouns and podcasting. 

  Contact: Dr Eamon McCarthy eamon.mccarthy@stir.ac.uk

Past Events

• Intermediality: Practice-led Research in Modern Languages June 2022 (as part of the SGSAH Summer School)

• Public Humanities for a Drowning World 25 November 2022

• Modern Languages Journal Publication workshop 28 March 2023
  
  
• SGSAH Modern Languages application roundtable 31 October 2024

   

When published, all event details and registration links will be found on the SGSAH Events and Training page. 

Have an idea for training? Want to learn more about a specific event? Get in touch with the Discipline+ Catalyst contact at your HEI. ↓