Literary and Linguistic Perspectives on Cultural Narratives

Background

Organized under the framework of the 5th International Conference on Literature, Language, and Culture Development (ICLLCD 2026), this session draws upon the distinct yet complementary approaches of literary and linguistic analysis to explore how cultural narratives are constructed and sustained, within the following context. Cultural narratives constitute the shared stories, symbols, and interpretive frameworks through which societies understand their collective identity, historical experiences, and cultural values. These narratives function as a cultural memory, transmitting traditions, beliefs, and social norms from one generation to another. Within the humanities, both literary and linguistic perspectives provide important approaches for examining how such narratives are constructed, preserved, and interpreted. From a literary perspective, cultural narratives are embedded in various forms of literature such as folklore, myths, epics, novels, and historical accounts, which reflect the social realities, moral values, and ideological orientations of a particular community. Literary texts often serve as mirrors of society, highlighting cultural heritage, social conflicts, and historical transformations. Linguistic perspectives, on the other hand, focus on how language structures and variations—including lexical, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic features—shape and convey cultural meanings. Literary and linguistic approaches enable a comprehensive understanding of how narratives represent and sustain cultural identity within diverse social and historical contexts.

Goal/Rationale

The study of cultural narratives from linguistic and literary perspectives faces several academic and societal challenges. One of the primary problems is the gradual decline in attention to traditional cultural narratives due to globalization, technological advancement, and the dominance of modern media. As a result, many literary forms, oral traditions, and classical texts are becoming less prominent among younger generations. From a literary perspective, this decline limits the understanding of historical experiences, cultural values, and social issues that are embedded within these narratives. Furthermore, the lack of critical engagement with literary texts in educational contexts often reduces their role in shaping cultural awareness. From a linguistic perspective, another challenge lies in the loss or transformation of linguistic features associated with cultural narratives. Variations in syntax, vocabulary, semantics, and pragmatic usage often change over time, leading to the weakening of traditional linguistic expressions that carry cultural meaning. Language shift, borrowing, and the influence of dominant global languages may also contribute to the erosion of culturally significant linguistic forms.

To address these issues, educational institutions should encourage the study of cultural narratives through interdisciplinary approaches that integrate literature and linguistics. Incorporating traditional narratives into academic curricula, promoting linguistic research on cultural texts, and encouraging student participation in cultural storytelling can help preserve and reinterpret these narratives for contemporary society. This workshop will prove to be insightful to redress the issues concerned.

Scope

The scope of this study focuses on exploring students’ understanding of literary and linguistic perspectives in relation to cultural narratives. Student participants will play a significant role in providing insights into how cultural stories, texts, and language practices shape their perception of identity, traditions, and societal values. From a literary perspective, the study encourages students to reflect on narratives found in folklore, myths, novels, and historical accounts that represent cultural experiences and social realities. Their responses will help examine how literary texts influence the interpretation of cultural heritage and societal issues. From a linguistic perspective, the participation of students will contribute to understanding how language variations—such as vocabulary, syntax, meaning, and context—affect the way cultural narratives are communicated and interpreted. Through questionnaires, discussions, or written responses, students will share their perspectives on the relationship between language, literature, and culture, thereby supporting a broader academic understanding of cultural narratives in educational contexts.

Publication

Accepted papers of the symposium will be published in Communications in Humanities Research (Print ISSN 2753-7064), and will be submitted to  Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI), Crossref, CNKI, Portico, Google Scholar  and other databases for indexing. The situation may be affected by factors among databases like processing time, workflow, policy, etc.

Accepted manuscripts will be submitted to the publisher on a rolling basis. Early-registered papers are expected to be published and printed earlier.

This symposium is organized by ICLLCD 2026 and it will independently proceed the submission and publication process.