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It’s not all about you: New perspectives on address research
Edited by Bettina Kluge and María Irene Moyna
[Topics in Address Research 1] 2019
► pp. 375–396

Introductions at international academic conferences

Address and naming in three national varieties of English

This chapter investigates preferred introduction routines in first encounters in the context of international academic conferences where English is used as the conference language. We focus on reported use of first and last names as well as titles in introductions in American, Australian and British English based on a large-scale survey of reported introduction in three scenarios: introduction of self, of others and expected introduction of self by others. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative data the results demonstrate that while use of first and last name is the unmarked choice, there is also significant variation among speakers of different national varieties, different scenarios and age groups. The results also show the importance of situational factors, seniority and hierarchy for introductions.
Keywords: introductions, address, academic conferences, (varieties of) English, intercultural communication
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
  • 3.Theoretical and methodological approach
  • 4.Methodology
  • 5.Quantitative results
    • 5.1Results by country of origin
      • Introduction of self
      • Introduction of others
      • Expected introduction by others
      • Cross tabulation
    • 5.2Results by age group
      • Introduction of self
      • Introduction of others
      • Expected introduction by others
      • Cross tabulation
  • 6.Qualitative analysis
    • 6.1Introductions as a complex task
    • 6.2Reactions to use of FN
    • 6.3Reactions to use of academic titles
    • 6.4Seniority and hierarchy
    • 6.5Gender
    • 6.6Intercultural comments
    • 6.7Situational aspects
  • 7.Summary and discussion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 28 November 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/tar.1.15nor
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