New book chapter on pragmatic impairment

This chapter by our Prof. Louise Cummings in the Handbook of Language and Speech Disorders uses the notion of a communicative intention to discuss pragmatic impairment.

Result of the ENGL New Logo Design Competition

The Judging Panel is pleased to announce that the champion for the ENGL New Logo Design Competition is Shu-fan Yang, a student of BA in Communication Design at the School of Design. A total of 37 entries from 25 participants were received and the competition for the winning one was very keen. The Panel would like to give special compliment to the runner-up, Seth Dikmadugoda, for a high quality design with creativity and aesthetic appeal. Our Department will be retitled to the Department of English and Communication with effect from 1 September 2021. The new title reflects our status as an interdisciplinary department that features linguistics and communication experts over the world. This diversity is also the hallmark of our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and is reflected in the wide range of subjects that students can take at the BA or MA levels . Also, the new title is synonymous with our tagline, which is "Excelling in Professional Communication". Please join us to congratulate the champion, and thanks again to those who participated in the competition. Some refinements will be done on the winning logo and it will be released when it is ready. With best wishes from the Judging Panel, Professor Hans Ladegaard, Head, Department of English Professor Bernadette Watson, Associate Head, Department of English Mr Paul Lee, Chair, Department of English Advisory Committee, Department of English Ms Catherine Law, Marketing Manager, Department of English Mr Roberto Vilchis, Instructor, School of Design

New book chapter on second language motivation

This joint article by our Dr Sal Consoli discusses teacher research offered insights into the evolving identities, linguistic repertoires, and pedagogies of student-teachers.

New paper published in World Englishes

This new paper by our Professor Kathleen Ahrens examines keyness, conceptual frames, and metaphorical signals in newspaper editorials in two varieties of World Englishes: Chinese and Amercian English. These editorials focus on opinion articles and commentaries about territorial issues in the South China Sea during 2013-2015 and the study helps to understand how the media in China and the United States present their arguments over this geopolitical situation issue. The paper can be accessed via the Wiley Scholarly Network.

IRCAHC partners with The University of Queensland

A 2-year MoU has been signed for the two universities to promote effective interpersonal practice through mutually beneficial education and research.

WANTED! Author or Editor for Routledge Research in Speech-Language Pathology

A new book series – Routledge Research in Speech-Language Pathology – Taylor & Francis by our Professor Louise Cummings is now inviting ideas from SLPs who would like to author or edit a book on an area of interest to them. Topics already included in the series include palliative care, post-traumatic stress disorder, and sensory loss. If you have a novel idea or topic for a book, please contact series editor Prof. Cummings at: louise.cummings@polyu.edu.hk. Further information about the series

Systemic Functional Linguistics Part 1, Volume 1

The first of 8 volumes of collected works by our Chair Professor Christian M.I.M. Matthiessen published by Equinox Publishing is out! Prof. Matthiessen is one of the world's leading scholars in Systemic Functional Linguistics #SFL and the series is about the nature, the functions and the structure of human language seen from a number of points of view within the framework of contemporary scientific thought. It covers about 35 years of work by him. This Volume 1 is titled Systemic Functional Linguistics Part 1 which focuses on "The challenge of theorizing language: theoretical cartography." It provides the foundation of the whole series as well as introducing and summarising SFL. The painting on the book cover is by Prof. Matthiessen's father. More about the book and buy the hard copy or eBook at discount: click here Stay tuned for our update on the release of Volume 2!

Open for application: Junior Research Mentoring Programme (deadline: 13 April 2021)

Want to be part of our research projects and learn more about language research? Our Department is offering four practical and interesting research projects under the Junior Research Mentoring Programme organised by the Academic Registry. S.4 & S.5 / Grade 10 & Grade 11 / Year 11 & 12 students are welcome to apply: Project 1: Changes in Verbal and Non-verbal behavior as Proficiency in English Develops (Research Leader: Dr Renia Lopez) Project 2: Cultural Values in Public Service Advertisements in Hong Kong (Research Leader: Dr William Feng)  Project 3: Language, Social Media, and Time (Research Leader: Dr Dennis Tay)  Project 4: Leveraging ‘Uncertainty’ during a Health Crisis: A Comparative Analysis of the Use of Hedges in the Speeches of Four International Political Leaders During 2020 (Research Leader: Dr Margo Turnbull)  The research projects allow students to get helpful insights into our BA (Hons) in English and Applied Linguistics programme as well as to create a unique experience in language research. Application deadline: 13 April 2021 Project period: May - August 2021 Click here for more information.

Virtual Presentation of the Stephen Evans Awards 2020

In recognition of the contributions of the late Prof. Stephen Evans, former associate head of our Department, the Department has introduced the Stephen Evans Awards since 2018. For the 2020 awards, we are glad to have his beloved wife Mrs Kerry Evans, our Head Prof. Hans Ladegaard, and Associate Head Prof. Bernadette Watson, to virtually present the awards on 17 March 2021. ‘I feel humbled and honored to receive this award and my journey at PolyU started with Prof. Stephen Evan's support and encouragement. I was really shattered to know about his untimely demise before I started my PhD. This award meant a lot to me and it has inspired me to work more.’ - Dr Madhu NEUPANE, The Stephen Evans Best Paper 2020 Awardee (Title of paper: Supervisory feedback across disciplines: does it meet students’ expectations?) ‘I look on this award as a memento that would always remind me of the significant role that Prof. Stephen Evans played towards my academic development in the seven months that I had him as my supervisor. He made an indelible impression on my mind not only as an academic aficionado but more importantly as an empathetic and benevolent human being. He is still very much my memory.’ - Dr Mark NARTEY, The Stephen Evans Best Thesis 2020 Awardee (Title of thesis: Discourse and political myth-making: A critical discourse study of Nkrumaism) The Tribute volume to Stephen Evans – “Approaches to Specialized Genres” was presented to Mrs Evans at the last part of the presentation. The special volume was edited by two former PhD students of Prof. Stephen Evans and our Dr Dennis Tay with an aim to connect Prof. Evans' intellectual legacy. It highlights the value and the growing trend of a multi-perspective and inter-theoretic approach to genre research. Click here for the replay of the virtual presentation.  

The 26th Congregation of the Faculty of Humanities

Congratulations to all our graduates! The 26th Congregation of the Faculty of Humanities, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University will be held virtually on 27 March 2021. Keep in touch with other fellow ENGL alumni and the Department by joining Department of English Alumni Association (DEAA)!