Department of Foreign Languages, Spring 2010
Faculty News
From left to right: Dr. Craig Christy, Dr. Claudia Vance, Dr. Keith Lindley, Dr. Robert Adler, Mrs. Joy Kelly, and
Dr. Scott Infanger. Sort of pictured: Mr. Trent Kelly, future UNA foreign language major.
Dr. Craig Christy, Chair and Professor, conducted archival research in March in Augsburg and Munich, Germany, on German linguist Wilhelm Streitberg and the relation of his linguistic views to current research in the area of grammaticalization. Dr. Christy’s ongoing research on grammaticalization was recognized with an invitation to contribute a chapter to the landmark book Chomskyan (R)evolutions (Amsterdam/Philadelphia: Benjamins, 2010). His chapter is entitled “The Evolution of Meaning and Grammar: Chomskyan Theory and the Evidence from Grammaticalization” (pp. 353-375). Dr. Christy’s review of Aux origines d’une science allemande de la culture: Linguistique et psychologie des peuples chez Heymann Steinthal [The Beginnings of a German Science of Culture: Linguistics and Ethnic Psychology in the Works of Heymann Steinthal] by Céline Trautmann-Waller (Paris: CNRS Editions 2006) appeared at the first of the year in Volume 36, Number 2/3 of Historiographia Linguistica (2009: 452-457). In January, he participated in the Second International Conference on the Development and Assessment of Intercultural Competence, hosted by The Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language and Literacy at the University of Arizona (Tucson). There Dr. Christy was awarded two certificates for his participation in the workshops “Cultural Competency for Educational Leaders” and “Building Intercultural Sensitivity and Developing Intercultural Competence in Foreign Languages.” In February, he attended the annual meeting of the International Studies Association in New Orleans. As a member of the University Research Committee and the Salary Study Subcommittee, he continues to contribute to the University’s shared governance system.
Dr. Scott Infanger, Assistant Professor, moderated the panel “Lo feminino en el mundo hispanoamericano” (The Feminine in the Hispanic World) and presented “Rechazando el martirio de la Mujer en la obra de María Luisa Bombal” (Rejecting the Martyrdom of the Woman in the Work of Maria Luisa Bombal) at the IX Congreso Internacional de Literatura Hispánica in Lima, Peru, in March. While in Peru, he began laying the groundwork to establish another study abroad program to be offered in May 2011. Dr. Infanger also accepted an appointment to Cengage Learning’s World Languages Technology Advisory Board, where he will aid in the improvement of second language acquisition materials and their application in distance learning and traditional classroom environments
Dr. Keith Lindley, Assistant Professor, organized and led a ten-day tour of Paris for students and community members that departed from Huntsville on March 19. A special topics course in International Studies, FL 490 – Culture and Civilization of Paris, was offered in connection with the trip. In addition to classroom hours before and after the time in France, students completed a 20-page paper on selected historical sites in the capital. Dr. Lindley serves on various university committees including the SACS Compliance Subcommittee on General Academic Operations, and the Arts and Sciences Research and Development Committee. He is a Faculty Senator, and volunteers as a medical translator for the Hispanic community of our area
Dr. Claudia Polo Vance, Associate Professor, earned professional development credit for participating in the Second International Conference on the Development and Assessment of Inter-cultural Competence organized by the Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language, and Literacy (CERCLL) and the University of Arizona in January. Dr. Vance and Valerie Jones presented their faculty-student collaboration project and Ms. Jones’ Honors Capstone project on “Study Abroad at the University of North Alabama” at UNA’s 2010 Research Day in April. Dr. Vance is Chair of the SACS Compliance Subcommittee on General Academic Operations, and Vice-Chair of the International Programs/Offerings Committee.
Dr. Claudia Vance and Dr. Keith Lindley announced a multi-disciplinary study abroad opportunity and are coordinators for the 2010 UNA study abroad trip to Costa Rica. They will escort students to Centro Panamericano de Idiomas Language School and will conduct tours to various sites throughout Costa Rica.
