Dialogue under occupation

Abstract

In November 2007, a unique conference was held at Al-Quds University in Abu Dis, East Jerusalem, Palestine. ‘‘Dialogue Under Occupation (DUO II)’’, a follow up to a conference of the same name held 1 year earlier in Chicago. The starting point for DUO was that scholars and professionals in applied linguistics and related fields might come together to present, discuss, and dialogue in areas of the world experiencing occupation. ‘‘Dialogue’’ is intended in the sense that understanding of differing perspectives comes through dialogue and, as scholars of language, public policy, education, language policy and communications, we came together to examine language in use from its diachronic and synchronic influences on areas of conflict. One of the challenges to understanding current language policy and planning implications of political occupation in Palestine is to uncover the historical developments and shifts in processes and policies of over 40 years of occupation (Fernea and Hocking 1992).