Submissions for 2026 are now closed. The full 2026 schedule can be found here, and recordings of this year’s seminars can be found here.

The Discourse Research Association of Ireland (DRAOI) is delighted to announce that our Summer Seminar Series returns for its sixth consecutive year, taking place weekly throughout July and August 2026. We are now welcoming proposals from discourse researchers for presentations in this year’s series.

Submission Deadline: 31 May 2026
Seminars: Weekly, July and August 2026

Topics of Interest

In keeping with DRAOI’s inclusive ethos and the breadth of our membership’s research interests, we welcome proposals addressing discourse research in all its forms. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• (Critical) Discourse Analysis/Studies
• Discourse Theory
• Sociolinguistics
• Pragmatics
• (Social) Semiotics
• Multimodal and/or Digital Discourses
• Discourse, Language, and Ideology
• Discourse in specific subject areas, such as economics, gender and sexuality, policy, government and politics, media, education, industry, sustainability and climate change, ethics, sociology, psychology, communication, and more.

About the Series

The Summer Seminar Series offers a collegial and informal environment in which discourse researchers can present their work, connect with like-minded scholars, and engage in stimulating, wide-ranging conversations. Presenters seeking feedback on works in progress can expect constructive and supportive responses in a positive, collaborative setting.

Presentation formats may include:

• An overview of a planned or in-progress research project, or a summary of findings
• A book talk (at any stage of production)
• A summary of a recent publication
• A conference presentation (including those delivered elsewhere)
• A workshop or tutorial on a disciplinary or methodological approach to discourse research
• An overview of a master’s or PhD thesis
• Creative proposals are also warmly encouraged

Who Should Apply

We give particular consideration to proposals from discourse researchers based in Ireland (north and south), those with personal or professional ties to Ireland, and those whose work focuses on discourses within the Irish context. We are proud to welcome submissions from researchers at all career stages and from diverse backgrounds, including postgraduate researchers, independent scholars, unaffiliated academics, and senior researchers.

How to Submit

To propose a presentation, please submit an abstract of 200–300 words by 31 May 2026 via the submission form at the bottom of this page.

If you encounter any difficulties with the online submission form, you are also welcome to email your proposal directly to discourseresearchireland@gmail.com with the subject line “2026 Seminar Proposal”. Please include the following:

• Your name
• Institutional affiliation (if applicable)
• Email address
• Seminar title
• 200–300 word abstract
• Availability during July and August 2026

Additional Information

• All seminars are held online and are entirely free of charge for speakers and attendees alike. The full schedule of presentations and virtual joining links will be distributed via our mailing list in advance of the series. To subscribe, please visit https://discourseresearch.ie/join/
• Certificates of attendance and/or presentation are available upon request.
• If you would like informal feedback on your abstract prior to submission, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

For details of previous DRAOI Summer Seminar Series, including recordings of past talks, please visit https://discourseresearch.ie/summer-seminar-series/.

Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at discourseresearchireland@gmail.com or through our website.

Abstract Submission Form