34th International Scientific Conference in the Humanities “The January Papers”
January 25-26, 2024

The annual International Scientific Conference in the Humanities “The January Papers” organized by Daugavpils University (DU) is a big academic event that represents the major spheres of the humanities, research subjects, methodologies, and interdisciplinary innovations.

The mission of “The January Papers” is to bring together researchers to discuss topical issues in linguistics, literary science, history, and culture, applying both traditional, approbated and modern, interdisciplinary research methodologies to characterizing the processes of the humanities, as well as to sustain and establish research contacts.

Special focus of the conference is on those research trends that specialize in – comparative literature, contrastive linguistics, translation studies, regional studies, oral history and identity research, culture studies.

Conference workgroups:

1. THE BALTIC LANGUAGES: SYNCHRONY AND DIACHRONY [+]

The participants of the workgroup are invited to discuss the research of linguistic units of various levels in the synchronic and the diachronic aspect, the research on the Baltic languages in the contrastive and comparative aspects.
The papers will be published in the peer-reviewed research paper collection “Valoda dažādu kultūru kontekstā” / “Language in Various Cultural Contexts” (ISSN 1691-6042), included in the international database EBSCO.
Working languages: Latvian, Lithuanian, and English.

2. THE SLAVIC LANGUAGES IN THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT [+]

It is envisaged to consider the complex of the problems related to the research of the Slavic languages from the viewpoint of synchrony and diachrony, in the aspect of theory and pragmatics.
The papers will be published in the peer-reviewed research paper collection “Valoda dažādu kultūru kontekstā” / “Language in Various Cultural Contexts” (ISSN 1691-6042), included in the international database EBSCO.
Working languages: Russian, Polish, Latvian, and English.

3. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: SYNCHRONY AND DIACHRONY  [+]

The participants of the conference are invited to discuss the research of linguistic units of various levels in the synchronic and the diachronic aspect; the research on languages in the contrastive, comparative and sociolinguistic aspects.
The papers will be published in the peer-reviewed research paper collection “Valoda dažādu kultūru kontekstā” / “Language in Various Cultural Contexts” (ISSN 1691-6042), included in the international database EBSCO.
Working language: English.

4. MODERN STUDIES IN TRANSLATOLOGY [+]

In the workgroup it is envisaged to consider the theoretical aspects of modern translatology, to focus on the issues related to translation practice: analysis of translations, comparison of translations, translators’ personalities and experience, issues of oral translation, modern technologies in the work of interpreters and translators.
The papers will be published in the peer-reviewed research paper collection “Valoda dažādu kultūru kontekstā” / “Language in Various Cultural Contexts” (ISSN 1691-6042), included in the international database EBSCO..
Working languages: English, Latvian, and Russian.

5. A HUMAN AND THE WORLD IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE [+]

World literature and culture reflect ideas about the world and human in a certain era. In the cultures of different peoples, these ideas can have both common features and significant differences; it is connected with national characteristics, traditions and social processes, with the society’s desire for interaction with other cultures. Despite the processes of globalization, which contribute to closer cultural contacts, ideas about the world and human can differ significantly not only for different nations, but also in the works of individual writers, artists and representatives of other creative directions, depicting a vividly pronounced individual, sometimes even “rebellious” character.
The study of changes in the worldview and the concept of human is of interest in the context of anthropology revealing trends characteristic of individual and national consciousness, as well as society as a whole. The thematic workgroup envisages wide-ranging discussions of scientific problems related to the study of the world and human perceptions in synchronic and diachronic aspects in the creative work of authors of various national literatures, cultures and works of art.
The papers will be published in the peer-reviewed research paper collection “Kultūras studijas” / “Cultural Studies” (ISSN 1691-6026), included in the international database EBSCO.
Working languages: Latvian, English, and Russian.

6. LITERATURE AND CULTURE: PROCESS, INTERACTION, PROBLEMS  [+]

The workgroup is expected to focus on the analysis of literary and cultural processes, interactions and problems in the artistic text and culture from a diachronic and synchronic perspective. Presenters are invited to participate with both individual topics and thematic reports. Within the framework of the workgroup, the “Life-Writing” section is being announced, which will consider issues related to autobiography, biography, autobiographical and biographical fiction, life story, epistolary literature, and similar genre problems in the aspect of poetics, thematic, comparative and textual communication of life-writing.
The papers will be published in the peer-reviewed research paper collection “Literatūra un kultūra: process, mijiedarbība, problēmas” / “Literature and Culture: Process, Interaction, Problems” (ISSN 2243-6960), included in the international database EBSCO.
Working languages: Latvian and English.

7. HISTORY: SOURCES AND PEOPLE [+]

We invite historians to present the results of their research. There are no thematic or any other (chronological, spatial localization, etc.) restrictions; the obligatory condition is that the paper reflects the researcher’s work with historical sources.
The papers will be published in the peer-reviewed collection of scientific articles “Vēsture: avoti un cilvēki” / “History: Sources and People” (ISSN 1691-9297), included in the international database EBSCO.
Working languages: Latvian, English, and Russian.

The workgroups organized in the framework of the conference do not envisage the presentation of papers on methodology of teaching. We kindly request all the applicants to evaluate the compliance of the theme proposed with the indicative abstracts provided.

The 34th Daugavpils University International Scientific Conference in the Humanities “The January Papers” will be held in a hybrid mode (both in-person format at DU and online format using ZOOM platform). Certificates of participation will be available at the conference venue. In turn, for online participants certificates will be sent after the conference

Participation fee for the 34th Daugavpils University International Scientific Conference in the Humanities “The January Papers”:
      in-person participation EUR 80.00;         online participation EUR 60.00.
Other types of participation:
  • for participants – non-presenters
        – in-person participation EUR 15.00;
        – online participation – EUR 5.00;
  • for participants with multiple papers
        – in-person participation EUR 80.00 for the first paper, EUR 40.00 for each additional paper;
        – online participation EUR 60.00 for the first paper, EUR 40.00 for each additional paper;
  • for multiple authors of the same paper
        – in-person participation EUR 80.00 for the primary author and EUR 60.00 for each co-author;
        – online participation EUR 60.00 for the primary author and EUR 40.00 for each co-author.

The deadline for applications is 13 January 2024.

The correspondence of every paper to the theme of the respective workgroup will be considered by the Steering Committee on the basis of the abstract submitted. The notification of the acceptance and the inclusion of the paper into the conference programme will have been sent (by e-mail) by 15 January 2024.

Articles developed on the basis of the papers presented at the conference should be submitted before 24 April 2024. All submitted articles will be blind-reviewed and the decision on publishing the article will be taken by the respective scientific board of editors.

The participation fee should be paid by transfer to the DU account before 16 January 2024.

The account:
  Receiver: Daugavpils University
  VAT Reg. Nr.: LV90000065985
  Address: Vienibas street 13, Daugavpils, LV-5400
  Bank: Swedbank AS
  BIC: HABALV22XXX
  Account Nr: LV64HABA0551055786378
  Purpose of the payment: Sub-account: 01016; Participation fee for The 34th Daugavpils University International Scientific Conference in the Humanities “The January Papers” Scientific Readings”.

Conference Contacts:
  Daugavpils University
  Vienības street 13, Daugavpils, LV-5400
  Phone: +371 65424238
  e-mail: hl@du.lv