The Network for Silence Studies conjoins researchers who study the significance of silence. We share an experience that there seem to be immense amounts of studies in various aspects of silence, but these studies are scattered and struggle to unite into a common field of silence studies.
Maybe this is not by accident. The scattered character of silence studies may be based on the slippery character of silence itself. Silence being, as it were, the “outside of language” is difficult to embrace or comprehend in linguistic terms, without at the same time reducing its richness or manifold features.
Thus, the Network of Silence Studies does not aim to unite all research in the significance of silence into one overall discipline. On the contrary, we embrace the manifold approaches to silence and believe that silence studies essentially benefit from multidisciplinary approaches engaging with each other.
The network thus welcomes every scholar who is fascinated by silence studies, and who wants to contribute to the ongoing research.
History and activities
The Network for Silence Studies was initiated in Winter/Spring 2021. In April 2021, we had our first (Zoom-mediated) meeting. Our main activity pace is two online meetings a year, supplemented by ad hoc arrangements, such as discussions of texts, workshops discussing selected issues surrounding silence studies, meeting physically at academic conferences, discussing publication projects, etc.
An overview of activities in the network can be found here: Link
Participants
A list of the current network participants can be found here: Link
To become a member of the network, contact Ejvind Hansen: Link