Call for Papers

 Exploring Possible Benefits of Bilingualism in the Labor Market and Beyond

The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles, in collaboration with the Educational Testing Service (ETS), is pleased to issue a call for papers under the general topic of “The Benefits of Bilingualism.”  We are especially interested in research that demonstrates whether there are labor market benefits to bilingualism in the United States, particularly for individuals who are proficient in one or more languages in addition to English.  The benefit may take the form of increased salary, possible advantages in entering the labor market (“getting a job”), retaining a job (especially in recessionary times), being promoted within a job, or other ways in which the bilingual individual might be advantaged in the labor market.  Although the call for papers does not direct itself specifically to other kinds of advantages, we are open to suggestions for papers that would provide strong evidence for additional benefits accruing from bi- or multilingualism.

We anticipate funding 5 or 6 papers at an amount of about $5,000.00 each.  Once contracted, the author(s) would be requested to submit the first complete draft by July 31, 2012.  An Authors’ Roundtable will be scheduled for late summer 2012, at which the papers will be reviewed and discussed by other authors and experts in the field.  The Roundtable will be held at UCLA and travel expenses will be covered for attending. Subsequent to the Roundtable, authors will be given 6 weeks to respond to comments and submit the final manuscript.

It is the intention of the Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles to publish the papers in a bound volume with a major press.  Additional dissemination of the papers is also anticipated.  Authors will be consulted on this process.

View the complete Call for Papers with submission requirements.