The American Name Society (ANS) invites you to dive into the compelling world of naming at the upcoming Modern Language Association (MLA) Convention, taking place from January 8–11, 2026, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This year’s thematic panel, "Onomastic Rhetoric: Acts of Naming in Real and/or Imagined Worlds", promises to be an intellectually rich exploration of the power and implications of naming.
Acts of Naming: Power and Possibility
Naming is more than just assigning labels—it is an act of power, shaping identities, histories, and perceptions. Whether naming people, places, or things, in reality or fiction, the act carries profound implications. This panel asks provocative questions, such as:
- Does accepting a name signify weakness?
- How do names transform when power dynamics shift?
- What acts of naming occur in liminal spaces between the real and the imagined?
Through these lenses, participants will explore anthroponyms (names of people), charactonyms (names of fictional characters), toponyms (place names), theonyms (names of divine beings), and more.
Engaging Onomastic Scholarship
To frame their discussions, panelists are encouraged to draw on leading onomastic resources, including:
- NAMES: A Journal of Onomastics (Archives)
- Literary Onomastics by Dorothy Dodge Robbins (2023)
- Rhetorics of Names and Naming by Star Medzerian Vanguri (2016)
- The Oxford Handbook of Names and Naming (2018)
These works provide foundational insights into the rhetorical, cultural, and linguistic aspects of naming.
Call for Proposals
Scholars interested in contributing are invited to submit proposals by 11:59 pm EST on March 17, 2025. Proposals should explore acts of naming in the real world and/or imagined worlds across any medium, era, or culture.
Submission Guidelines:
- Email Dr. Anne W. Anderson at awanderson.editing@gmail.com with the subject line “MLA 2026 proposal.”
- Include in the email body:
- Proposal title and first line of the abstract
- Full name(s), affiliation(s), and email address(es)
- Attach a PDF file with:
- Proposal title
- Abstract (up to 350 words)
- Works cited list (exclude author identification for blind review)
Important Dates:
- Proposal Deadline: March 17, 2025
- Notification of Results: March 27, 2025
- Membership Requirements: Contributors must hold memberships in both MLA and ANS, with MLA membership required by April 7, 2024.
Why Attend?
The ANS panel at MLA 2026 offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the multifaceted power of naming. It’s a chance to connect with scholars from diverse fields, discover groundbreaking research, and contribute to the growing field of onomastics. Whether you’re an academic, a student, or simply fascinated by names, this panel is not to be missed.
For more information, visit the American Name Society or contact Dr. Anne W. Anderson at awanderson.editing@gmail.com. Mark your calendars and be part of this dynamic conversation in Toronto!
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