HUMAN, HUMANE, HUMANITIES. VOICES FROM THE ANGLOSPHERE.

The Italian Association for the Study of English (Associazione Italiana di Anglistica [AIA]) biennial Conference, AIA 32, will take place at the University of Turin , Italy, on 11 th -13 th September 2025.

The theme of the 32^nd AIA Conference is HUMAN, HUMANE, HUMANITIES. VOICES FROM THE ANGLOSPHERE.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Aldo Moro complex, a modern and accessible building in the heart of the city, where the Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Modern Cultures is based.

The conference is organized in collaboration with COREP.

Images courtesy of Prof. Marek Lukasik

Discover UNITO below:

Call for seminars

The new millennium is witnessing new geopolitical crises, ideological conflicts, the effects of climate change, which make us reflect on what ‘being human’ involves.

Real-life experiences of people struggling for survival, suffering from ethnic, religious, political, gender and linguistic discrimination or isolation tell us that ‘humane’ values are often violated or ignored.

The emphasis on ‘human, humane and humanities’ in the title of 32nd AIA Conference is meant to offer scholars in linguistic, literary, cultural and transmedial studies the opportunity to explore the various facets of ‘human nature’, as they emerge from the voices of communities in the English-speaking world. The polysemic nature of these words lends itself to reflect on the state of being human, but also on being humane, that is, feeling empathy, compassion, and understanding for fellow living entities.

The digital turn represents a huge step forward for present and future generations of scholars. However, artificial Intelligence seems to be subverting the primacy of human intellect, threatening to dehumanise many aspects of human creative and communicative practices.

Recently literature has incorporated notions of neo-materialism and posthumanism to better take into account the more-than-human agency and the interconnectedness of all living beings. New forms of enslavement determine a constant concern both in the traditional and in the new media in postcolonial literature. Environmental humanities in the Anglosphere are increasingly engaged with interconnected crucial issues of social and climate justice, asymmetrical power relations and decolonial thinking.

AIA members are invited to submit proposals for Seminars relevant to the following themes, from the perspective of literary, linguistic and cultural studies. Inter- or cross-disciplinary Seminars, addressing issues from multiple perspectives, are strongly encouraged.

	Human experience(s) within and across texts and discourses Storytelling, old and new textualities, cross-digital narratives Stylistic approaches to texts and discourses about the human and the non-human Neo-material and posthuman perspectives in literary, cultural and postcolonial studies Ethics, empathy, compassion and tolerance (New) metaphors for the world we live in
	Social, climate justice, and decolonial thinking Migration flows, new forms of enslavements, new forms of agencies and activism Environmental humanities and eco-criticism Indigenous knowledge and the need for new ecological paradigms Representations of identity, gender, race, and class Cultural diversity, inclusivity and intersectionality in the English-speaking world Linguistic landscapes: exploring language variation and change Historical perspectives on English language, literature, and culture
	Digital humanities: diachronic and synchronic application to English studies Specialized discourse and international communication Human-machine interaction in the real and in the fictional world Multimodality in texts and discourses Truthfulness and post-truth The digital turn in education, teacher training, EFL teaching and learning The digital turn in translation Interdisciplinary approaches to the teaching of English literature Translation studies, cross-cultural communication, audio-visual translation (AVT) and media accessibility (MA) The human aspect of translation

Call for papers

AIA members are invited to submit abstracts for single-author or co-authored papers. 

Paper proposals should be sent to the seminar convenors by 23 April 2025. Download here the Book of Seminars.

Please submit your abstract as a word file following the template. Format your in-text and bibliographic references according to APA7.

Authors must be fully paid-up AIA members. 

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 23 April 2025.

Notification of acceptance: 15 May 2025.

Please note that:
– Seminars will include either 4, 5 or 8 speakers. Each speaker will be allowed 20 minutes for presentation.
– AIA members may present only one paper (this applies both to single-author and co-authored presentations).

PLENARY SPEAKERS

AIA 32 will feature the following plenary speakers:

 

Rossella Ciocca, University of Naples “L’Orientale”

Rossella Ciocca is Professor of English and Anglophone Literatures at the University of Naples ‘L’Orientale’, where she has been Coordinator of the PhD Programme in Literary, Linguistic and Comparative Studies. She is on the editorial board of numerous national and international Journals and book series. She has been the recipient of various competitive funded research grants. Her publications include volumes on the literary representations of otherness and on Shakespeare, and the translation and the edition of Shakespearean plays. Her more recent research and teaching interests include Postcolonial Literature and Theory, Black British, South Asian, Diasporic and Indian Literatures, Ecocriticism and Cli-fi, the notions of trans and post-humanism. She has recently edited with Sanjukta Das Gupta, Adivasi Histories, Stories, Visual Arts and Performances (Anglistica AION An Interdisciplinary Journal, 2015); with Neelam Srivastava the volume Indian Literature and The World (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2017); with Ganesh N. Devy, “Beyond Cultural Aphasia” in The Question of Silence (Orient BlackSwan, 2019); with Alex Tickell Millennium’s Children. New Trends in South-Asian Postmillennial Anglophone Literature (Textus, 2020); with Sabita Manian, Living in the Age of Anger: Representing ‘Negative Solidarities’ in Contemporary Global Culture (Anglistica AION An Interdisciplinary Journal, 2021); and with Marta Cariello Ressentiment, Anger, and Fear. Narratives and practices of the 'sad passions' (de genere. Rivista di studi letterari, postcoloniali e di genere, Fall 2024). She is currently working on the publication of Imaginative kin-making. Narrating alternative forms of kinship in survival literature and fiction (FES - Spring 2025). In June 2024, she organized and hosted with Katherine E. Russo the first edition of the International Doctoral Summer School of the Dis-4Change Center (Studies on Climate Change and Environmental Discourse).

Radhika Jha, Cosmopolitan Author

Radhika Jha was born in Delhi, she recived her bachelors in Anthropology at Amherst College, and did her Masters in Political Science at the University of Chicago. She is the author of five critically acclaimed books – Lanterns on their Horns (2009), Smell (2001) (Prix Guerlain 2002), The Elephant & The Maruti (2004), My Beautiful Shadow (2014) and The Hidden Forest (2022). Her books have been translated into 24 languages. As a journalist, she worked for The Hindustan Times and Business World magazine. As a social worker, she has worked for the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, where she started “Project Interact” – a project for the education of the children of victims of terrorism in India. She has lived in Tokyo, Beijing, Athens and New York. She speaks Chinese, Japanese, French, Luxembourgish and some Italian and Greek. Her mother-tongues are Hindi and English. She is also an acclaimed Indian Classical Dancer and teaches and performs around the world.

 

Carol O’Sullivan, University of Bristol, United Kingdom

Carol O'Sullivan is Associate Professor in Translation Studies at the University of Bristol where she teaches graduate and advanced undergraduate modules in translation theory, audiovisual translation and Italian to English translation. She has published widely on audiovisual translation, translation history, literary translation and public representations and perceptions of translation. Her books include Translating Popular Film (2011) and (co-edited with Jean-François Cornu) The Translation of Films 1900-1950 (2019). She is the Principal Investigator of the UK Subtitling Audiences and Reception Network project funded by the UK's Arts and Humanities Research Council (2024-5).

 

Caroline Tagg, The Open University, United Kingdom

Caroline Tagg is Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at The Open University, UK. 

Her research into language and mobile technologies rests on the understanding that digital communication practices are deeply embedded into individuals’ wider social, political and working lives. She is author of Exploring Digital English (2015), Taking Offence on Social Media (with Philip Seargeant and Amy Aisha Brown, 2017) and Mobile Messaging and Resourcefulness: a post-digital ethnography (with Agnieszka Lyons, 2022). The latter puts forward the concept of ‘mobile resourcefulness’ to understand how people adapt mobile technologies to suit their everyday situated purposes. Her edited collections include Message and Medium: English language practices across old and new media (with Mel Evans, 2020), which unpacks a ‘transhistorical’ approach to digital media emphasising continuity in practice, and the forthcoming Routledge Handbook of Language and Social Media around the World (with Korina Giaxoglou and Kristin Vold Lexander) which seeks to decentre the field of language and social media. 

She is co-editor of the Routledge Focus series Language and Social Media (with Sirpa Leppänen), former editor-in-chief of the international journal Discourse, Context & Media (2021-2024). and current Chair of the British Association of Applied Linguistics (BAAL, 2024-2027).

PROGRAMME

The programme of the conference will be published after 31 July 2025.

 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 

The book of abstracts will be published after 31st July 2025.

social programme

More info will be provided soon.

AIA BEST PRESENTATION PRIZE

For the first time at the AIA 32 Conference, AIA will assign a “Best presentation prize” to the best presentations delivered by participants who have registered under the “PhD candidate, post-doc, temporary staff, CEL, independent scholar, school teacher ” categories. Four prizes will be assigned to participants belonging to ANGL-01/A (Letteratura inglese) (two prizes) and to ANGL-01/C (Lingua, traduzione e linguistica inglese) (two prizes). If you want to participate in the “AIA Best presentation prize”, please send an email to Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo. (please specify “Best presentation prize+ANGL-01/A” or “Best presentation prize+ANGL-01/C” in the Subject line) after the notification of acceptance of your paper proposal (15 May 2025).

Please note that only single-author presentations will be eligible. Each candidate will be evaluated by a panel of AIA members.
Criteria for the award of “AIA Best presentation prize” (Premio AIA per la Migliore Presentazione):  
Novelty / originality of the research paper (50%)  
Methodology (soundness, clarity and rigour) (25%)  
Presentation skills (dynamic pace, visual appeal)  (25%)

AUDIO / VIDEO  ABSTRACT

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

• Esterino Adami
• Harjot Banga
• Cecilia Boggio
• Maria Cristina Caimotto
• Stefania Cicillini
• Carmen Concilio
• Michelangelo Conoscenti
• Irene De Angelis
• Massimiliano Demata
• Paola Della Valle
• Maria Laura Ferroglio
• Maria Festa
• Antonella Maria Giacosa
• Ilaria Giordano
• Alessio Mattana
• Vincenza Minutella
• Alessandra Molino
• Costanza Mondo
• Ilaria Parini
• Teresa Prudente
• Silvia Pireddu
• Virginia Pulcini
• Giorgia Riboni
• Marco Santello
• Karolina Anna Tatar
• Aurora Trapella
• Nesrine Triki
• Virginia Zorzi
• Angela Zottola

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE 

• Esterino Adami (Università di Torino)
• Giuseppe Balirano (Università di Napoli “L’Orientale”)
• Roberto Baronti Marchiò (Università di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale)
• Cecilia Boggio (Università di Torino)
• Paola Brusasco (Università di Chieti)
• Claudia Cao (Università di Cagliari)
• Valentina Castagna (Università di Palermo)
• Paola Catenaccio (Università di Milano)
• Carmen Concilio (Università di Torino)
• Michelangelo Conoscenti (Università di Torino)
• Giuseppina Cortese (Università di Torino)
• Manuela D’Amore (Università di Catania)
• Pietro Deandrea (Università di Torino)
• Irene De Angelis (Università di Torino)
• Bianca Del Villano (Università di Napoli “L’Orientale”)
• Paola Della Valle (Università di Torino)
• Massimiliano Demata (Università di Torino)
• Elena Di Giovanni (Università di Macerata)
• Eleonora Federici (Università di Ferrara)
• Cristiano Furiassi (Università di Torino)
• Francesca Guidotti (Università di Bergamo)
• Siria Guzzo (Università di Salerno)
• Bronwen Hughes (Università di Napoli Parthenope)
• Bruna Mancini (Università della Calabria)
• Pierpaolo Martino (Università di Bari)
• Vincenza Minutella (Università di Torino)
• Alessandra Molino (Università di Torino)
• Marilena Parlati (Università di Padova)
• Donatella Pallotti (Università di Firenze)
• Silvia Pireddu (Università di Torino)
• Teresa Prudente (Università di Torino)
• Virginia Pulcini (Università di Torino)
• Irene Ranzato (Sapienza Università di Roma)
• Enrico Reggiani (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore)
• Giorgia Riboni (Università di Torino)
• Federico Sabatini (Università di Torino)
• Rossana Maria Sebellin (Università di Roma Tor Vergata)
• Maria Grazia Sindoni (Università di Messina)
• Elena Spandri (Università di Siena)
• Massimo Sturiale (Università di Milano)
• Laura Tosi (Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia)
• Angela Zottola (Università di Torino)

REGISTRATION & DEADLINES

Deadline for early bird registration: 30 May 2025
Early registration payment due by 16 June 2025

Deadline for standard registration for presenters to the conference: 10 July 2025
Standard registration payment due by 25 July 2025

Deadline for standard registration for non-presenters to the conference: 1 September 2025
Standard registration payment due by 7 September 2025

Please be aware that registration and proof of payment are mandatory to be included in the programme.

The registration form will be available soon.

Registration for the conference will be confirmed by the conference secretariat (Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.) and indications for payment will be sent via mail.

AIA 32 PAYMENT MODALITIES

• Participants from Italy should pay using PagoPA. The payment slip will be sent via email.
• Participants from abroad should pay by bank transfer or credit card (via Paypal).

Payment can be made with secure registration using PayPal balance or one of the following credit cards: MasterCard/Eurocard; Visa/Delta/Electron; American Express.

All costs for any accompanying people joining optional conference services must be included in the payment.

Early registration fees:  the registration form must be sent by 30 May 2025 - payment  is due by 16 June 2025 

Academic Staff (PO, PA, RU, RTT, RTD-A, RTD-B): € 240
PhD candidate, post-doc, temporary staff, CEL, school teacher: € 120
Daily rate for all: € 80

Standard registration fees: the registration form must be sent by 10 July 2025 - payment is due by 25 July 2025

Academic Staff   (PO, PA, RU, RTT, RTD-A, RTD-B): € 280
PhD candidate, post-doc, temporary staff, CEL, school teacher : €150
Daily rate for all: € 95

Conference fee includes: welcome drink, welcome kit, coffee breaks, lunches (Thursday and Friday), access to conference sessions.

Venue

The conference will be held at the Department of Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Modern Cultures of the University of Turin, at Complesso Aldo Moro, Via Verdi, Turin, Italy.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION

TRAVEL

How to get to Turin

For a clickable map please point your browser to Turin Map

BY PLANE

Turin's Caselle International Airport (15 km from city center) has regular connections with the major Italian airports
Other airports within easy reach are those of Milan (Malpensa and Linate) and Genoa.

Transfer from/to Torino airport

Turin Airport Flight timetable 

BY TRAIN 

Trenitalia's official timetable

 BY BUS   

Flixbus official website

LOCAL TRANSPORT

To view local fares for Turin and suburbs click here.

ACCOMMODATION

Below you will find a list of hotels near the conference venue.

***** Grand Hotel Sitea, Via Carlo Alberto 35 (1,2 km)

***** Principi di Piemonte | UNA Esperienze, Via Piero Gobetti 15 (1,4 km)

**** NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina, Piazza Carlo Emanuele II 15 (600 m)

**** Hotel dei pittori, Corso Regina Margherita 57 (750 m)

**** Opera35 Boutique Hotel, Via della Rocca 35 (950 m)

**** Hotel Victoria Torino, Via Nino Costa 4 (1 km)

**** Hotel NH Torino Santo Stefano, Via Porta Palatina 19 (1,3 km)

**** Hotel Concord Torino, Via Giuseppe Luigi Lagrange 47 (1,5 km)

**** Starhotels Majestic, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 54 (1,6 km)

*** Hotel Amadeus, Via Principe Amedeo 41bis (300 m)

*** Piazza Vittorio Suites, Piazza Vittorio Veneto 13 (450 m)

*** Santa Giulia Art & Wine Residence, Via Santa Giulia 41 (550 m)

*** Hotel Alpi Resort, Via Alfonso Bonafous 5 (700 m)

*** Piazza Castello Suite, Piazza Castello 153 (950 m)

*** Hotel Chelsea, corner between Via Cappel Verde 1D and Via XX Settembre 79E (1,1 km)

*** Hotel Antica Dogana, Via Corte d’Appello 4 (1,4 km)

*** Best quality Hotel Gran Mogol, Via Guarino Guarini 2 (1,4 km)

*** Best Western Hotel Genio, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 47 (1,6 km)

*** Hotel Roma e Rocca Cavour, Piazza Carlo Felice 60 (1,6 km)

*** Green Class Hotel Astoria, Via XX Settembre 4 (1,7 km)

** Hotel Napoleon, Via XX Settembre 5 (1,6 km)

Residenza dell’Opera, Via San Massimo 17 (500 m)

Europrooms, Via XX Settembre 64 (1,1 km)

TOURIST INFO

Turin, nestling below its hills and embraced by the river Po, is a city with numerous parks which immerse it in greenery. It owes much of its charm to its magnificent geographical position at the foot of the western Alps. Turin is more than 2000 years old, evidence of which can be seen in its ancient and more modern historical monuments: the ancient Roman gates, the Royal residences, the palazzi and museums. The first capital of Italy, it is full of parks, tree-lined avenues and offers its river, the mountains, historic restaurants and cafés, long arcaded streets and multiethnic neighbourhoods, the moderate splendour of the Piedmont baroque and the originality of modern and contemporary architecture.

Touristic information are available on www.turismotorino.org.

Mole Antonelliana	Palazzo Reale	Basilica di Superga
Piazza San Carlo	Borgo Medioevale	Palazzo Madama
Duomo di Torino	Porte Palatine	Museo Egizio
Turin by night from Monte dei Cappuccini

Contacts

For further information, please write to:

AIA 32 Organizing Secretariat:

e-mail: Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.
Tel. +39-011-63.99.254

The conference is organized in collaboration with COREP. (www.corep.it).