Language, Discourse and Power Structures (LanDPoSts) in (De-)Democratization

25 June – 26 June 2025, University of Bonn 

The interdisciplinary workshop (LanDPoSts) in (De-)Democratization brings together research from national and international experts on issues concerned with the processes of democratization – seen as a process which increases equality and inclusion – and/or dedemocratization – viewed as the exclusion of groups from power and participation and reinforcement of hierarchies, which furthers exclusionary or discriminatory practices – as reflected in and driven by language and discourse. 

This workshop is part of a large-scale cooperative research project between researchers in various fields and from several universities, headed by Prof. Dr. Svenja Kranich, Chair of Linguistics of English and Translation Studies (LETS). We are proud to be supported by the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Individuals and Societies" ¹by the University of Bonn. 

If you wish to join us for the workshop, please send us an email to lets[at]uni-bonn.de

Prof. Dr. Svenja Kranich

Linguistics, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn 

Language, discourse and power structures in (de-)democratization: Introducing a research program

Prof. Dr. Rainer Banse

Sozial- und Rechtspsychologie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

Is the Cover the Message? Language Complexity and Moral Foundations of Political Discourse

PD Dr. Simone Knewitz

North American Studies, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

From “Critical Race Theory” to “DEI Hire”: White Identity Politics and the Affective Rhetoric of the Right in the U.S.

Dr. Martin Schweinberger

Linguistics, University of Queensland, Australia

Analysing Global Trends in Democratisation of Discourse Practices in Online Discourse

Prof. Dr. Jared Sonnicksen

Political science, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen

Voice(s) of the People: Mapping Challenges of (De-) Democratization for Citizens with Cognitive Impairment

Prof. Dr. Roland Imhoff 

Sozial- und Rechtspsychologie, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz

Who Endorses Conspiracy Theories and why?

Coffee break + Student Poster Session

(More information to follow)

Prof. Dr. Francesca Santulli

Linguistics, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Italy 

Dr. Dora Renna 

Translation and Linguistics, University for Foreigners of Siena, Italy

Tracing Populisms Across Media and Modes

Prof. Dr. Elena Parina

Celtic studies, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn 

Jasper Kaufhold

Celtic studies, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn 

Prof. Dr. Sarah Dietrich-Grappin

Romance studies, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

Back to the Roots of “Translanguaging”: The Welsh Concept of Trawsieithu and its Implications for Bilingual Education and Democratization

Prof. Dr. Paola Pietrandrea 

Rolf-Lessenich-Fellow,

Linguistics, Université de Lille, France

Towards a Democratic Linguistic Education for the Post-Digital Era

Dr. Hans-Christian Schmitz 

Computational linguistics, Fraunhofer-Institut (FKIE)

Tools for Information Space Analysis

Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Reber

English Linguistics, Universität Augsburg

Processes of (De-)Democratization in Legal Discourse