Submissions due December 8, 1999

Editors Roberta Binkley and Carol Lipson invite abstracts for a new collection of original articles that examine the rhetorics of ancient cultures. Contributions are welcome that study rhetorics which preceded the sixth century B. C. beginnings of Greek rhetoric, or that study rhetorics of other cultures contemporaneous with the classical world. Early cultures in Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Canaan, and Nubia, among others, developed differing sets of principles and conventions for language use, closely tied to the particular originating cultures. The collection, to be entitled Rhetoric Before and Beyond the Greeks, will begin to develop a detailed understanding of the differing approaches that arose in each culture, and of the ways those approaches enabled (or hindered) the particular cultures in areas connected to cultural values and goals. We are interested in why particular genres, conventions, and practices arose when and where they did, and in the effects of those genres, conventions, and practices. The collection will also address methodological issues, looking at complexities and possibilities involved in gaining close knowledge of the discourse in these periods; such issues often include restricted availability of source materials, dependence on translations, a paucity of prior work in rhetoric, and the relationship to work arising in paradigms of other fields.

We invite abstracts of 300 words to be submitted by December 8, 1999. Authors will be notified of acceptance by February 1, 2000; first drafts of completed articles will be due April 4, 2000. Abstracts should be sent to Carol Lipson, Writing Program, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-1160. The editors can be contacted at the following email addresses: cslipson@syr.edu, or Roberta-Binkley@utc.edu