CALL FOR PAPERS special issue (Ancient Greece & Speech)

The forthcoming special issue of Epistēmēs Metron Logos will be dedicated to the study of the sounds of language in ancient Greece (ca. 1200 B.C. ‒ ca. A.D. 500), in all its aspects: pronunciation and enunciation, phonetics and phonology, prosody and duration, pitch and accents, musical aspects, intonation, orality and the representation of sounds in script. Emphasis will be given to questions of methodology and epistemology, such as research tools, theories, and experimental techniques for the reconstruction and analysis of Greek pronunciation in antiquity; the history of scholarship on the sound of Greek; different tendencies and schools of research and their approaches; and the practical use of methods and theories to elucidate particular questions posed by empirical data, or to fill the gaps left by the lack of materials. Papers which combine theoretical background with the examination of case studies will be most welcome.

In particular, the questions treated in the papers of the issue may include the following (but note that the list is neither exhaustive nor restrictive):

‒ The reconstruction of the sounds of Greek in antiquity: phonetics and phonology, pitch, melodic and dynamic accents, intonation, duration and prosody, orality and aurality.

‒ Poetic and musical exploitation of the sound of language: metres and verses, music and melody, sound effects, echomimesis.

‒ Regional and dialectical variation: different dialects of Greek in antiquity and their peculiar phonetics. “Geography” of phonologies, groupings of kindred phonologies in adjacent areas, regional dichotomies (“north-south”, “east-west”, “mainland-islands” etc.) in the distribution of the various phonologies over the Greek landscape.

‒ The relation of language sound and script. Different versions of the Greek alphabet and the conventions used for the transcription of phonemes. Fidelity and infidelity of the alphabetic scripts as to the representation of sounds. Written signs with multiple phonetic values, phonemes represented by more than one sign.

‒ The use of present-day Greek pronunciation for the reconstruction of Greek phonetics in antiquity. In particular, the value of the modern dialects and their peculiar phonologies for the study of the ancient material. Relations between the modern and the ancient distribution of phonological/dialectical peculiarities.

‒ Comparative issues: the value of other languages as parallel/comparative material for the study and analysis of Greek phonetics and prosody. Indo-European heritage, local pre-Hellenic substrata, and their contribution to the formation of the soundscape of Greek in antiquity.

‒ Experimental methods and tools for the study of the phonetics and prosody of Greek in antiquity. Use of computer technology, sound laboratories, statistics, acoustics and psycho-acoustics, and their epistemological value.

‒ History of scholarship and practice. Different ways of pronouncing Classical Greek that are used in the modern world; Erasmian, Byzantine and present-day Greek, and other approaches, their history, rationale, and principles, their status by comparison to ascertainable linguistic reality.

Papers should not exceed 7000 words, including footnotes but excluding bibliography. References and bibliography must be formatted in accordance with the rules and conventions of APA. The deadline for the submission of papers is 31 May 2022. All submissions will be reviewed by one of the guest editors of the issue and an external specialist referee. Papers, preferably in the form of Word for Windows documents, may be sent by email to Professor Ioannis M. Konstantakos, iokonstan@phil.uoa.gr.

Confirmed contributor: Demetrios E. Lekkas.

Please note the following important dates:

• Submission Deadline: May 31, 2022.
• Publication: Ongoing until July 2022, each paper that is accepted will be published immediately.

Please address all correspondence regarding this special issue to: Professor Ioannis M. Konstantakos, iokonstan@phil.uoa.gr.

Lead Guest Editor

Ioannis M. Konstantakos, Professor of Ancient Greek Literature and Director of the Postgraduate Programme in Classical Philology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Guest Editors

Anastasia Georgaki, Professor of Music Technology and Director of the Laboratory of Music Acoustics and Technology, Department of Musical studies, School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Luis Calero, Lecturer in Classical Philology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

Review process

Each manuscript will go through an initial assessment from one editor and one additional double-blind review.

Preparation of the manuscript

Please follow the directions carefully:

• Language: British English only.
• Manuscript style and references: APA.
• GREEK TYPE. Greek should be supplied in a Unicode font such as Times New Roman.
• Manuscripts should be blind (no author details). All details should be provided in a separate Title page. Details required: Manuscript title, Authors & their affiliations, corresponding author & their contact details (email, address).
• Word limit: 7.000 words (without references).
• English Proofreading mandatory for non-English native speakers. Authors who do not have access to a proofreading service may feel free to contact the publishing director, Dr. Konstantinos Papageorgiou (cconstantinoss@gmail.com).
• Please address all correspondence regarding this special issue to: Professor Ioannis M. Konstantakos, iokonstan@phil.uoa.gr.

Benefits for authors who publish in Epistēmēs Metron Logos:

ISSN: 2585-2973 (print) & 2653-8822 (online).
Frequency: 2 issues per year.

Epistēmēs Metron Logos focuses on significant methodological and philosophical topics concerning the structure and the growth of science. It serves as a forum for exchange of views and ideas, even controversial ones, among working scientists and theorists of science, promoting interdisciplinary cooperation. The benefits for authors include:

• Double-blind peer review.
• DOI number and ORCID indexing.
• Fully indexed (via National Documentation Centre, Greece).
• Open Access.