Call for Papers: Nanjing Normal University Semiotics Symposium 2026 – Dimensions of Trust: Signs, Interpretation, and Reconstruction
Convenor & Program Chair: Prof. Dr. Hongbing Yu, Vice President of the IASS-AIS
Organizer & Local Host: School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Nanjing Normal University
The School of Foreign Languages and Cultures at Nanjing Normal University, the International Institute for Semiotic Studies Semiotics, and the editorial board of Chinese Semiotic Studies are pleased to announce that the 2026 Nanjing Normal University Semiotics Symposium will be held from October 23 to 25, 2026, at Nanjing Normal University (Suiyuan Campus). Building on the success of the 2018, 2019, 2024, and 2025 editions, this 5th academic gathering serves as both the cornerstone and the acme of the “NNU International Semiotics Exchange Week” (Oct 19–25).
I. Symposium Theme
“Dimensions of Trust: Signs, Interpretation, and Reconstruction”
Trust, as a universal phenomenon of meaning generation, constitutes the precious yet fragile cornerstone of human civilization. In practice, the maintenance of trust is frequently beset by semiotic ruptures, pervasive skepticism, and the eventual crisis of mistrust. We cordially invite scholars from diverse disciplines to explore the multifaceted manifestations of trust and mistrust across various cultural communities and historical contexts, particularly within the exigencies of current global social crises. Our objective is to chart potential pathways for the maintenance and reconstruction of trust in an increasingly precarious world.
II. Working Languages: English and Chinese
III. Key Topics (including but not limited to):
- “AI” and the crisis of meaning
- Fact, truth, and the tension of Signs
- The construction of reality in literature and film
- Cognitive conundrums in the “Post-Truth” era
- Semiotic mechanisms of lies and rumors
- Social change and the reconstruction of collective memory
- Regional and international mutual trust
- Semiotic Philosophies of Certainty and Uncertainty
IV. Speakers throughout the Semiotics Exchange Week (alphabetically ordered by last name)
- Jinhua DAI (Peking University, China)
- Jacques FONTANILLE (University of Limoges, France)
- Irene GAMMEL (Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada)
- Fanzhu HU (East China Normal University, China)
- Zhenzhao NIE (Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, China)
- Donato SANTERAMO (Queen’s University, Canada)
- Ľudmila LACKOVÁ (Charles University, Czech Republic)
- Massimo LEONE (University of Turin, Italy)
- Fengguang LIU (Dalian University of Foreign Languages, China)
- Neil Van LEEUWEN (Florida State University, USA)
- John Durham PETERS (Yale University, USA)
- Claudio PAOLUCCI (University of Bologna, Italy)
- Keyan Gray TOMASELLI (University of Johannesburg, South Africa)
- Enriquetta ZAFRA (Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada)
- Jun ZENG (Shanghai University, China)
- Jie ZHANG (Nanjing Normal University, China)
V. Dates and Venue
- Semiotics Symposium: October 24 – 25, 2026.
- Brief Schedule: Registration begins at 10:00 AM on Oct 23; plenaries and parallel panels on Oct 24-25; departure after lunch on Oct 25.
- Symposium Venue: Lecture Hall, 1st Floor, Building 500, Suiyuan Campus (122 Ninghai Road), Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
VI. Publication & Journal Support
Selected high-quality papers presented at the symposium will be prioritized for recommendation to Chinese Semiotic Studies. Published by De Gruyter Brill, this global journal is indexed in ESCI and SCOPUS. It is fully Open Access and does not charge any publication or processing fees (APC).
VII. Registration for the Symposium & Accommodation
- Registration Fee: 1600 RMB (800 RMB for students with valid ID). Invoices will be provided via email after the symposium.
- Meals: Lunches and dinners on Oct 24, and lunch on Oct 25, will be provided by the organizers.
- Accommodation: Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. We recommend booking nearby hotels in advance.
- Pre-Symposium Seminars per se are for free, on the condition that participants are already registered for the Semiotics Symposium.
VIII. Abstract Submission
The symposium plans to host a series of Parallel Panels. Please submit your abstract (including title and affiliation) using the attached “Pre-registration Form” to the organizing committee at: njnusemiotics@163.com. The official languages of the Symposium are Chinese and English. Participants presenting in Chinese must provide English translations of their titles and abstracts.
Submission Deadline: 23:59 PM, Sunday, August 16, 2026, Beijing Time (15:59 PM, Sunday, August 16, 2026, UTC). Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
To participants who need a visa to visit China (!): we strongly suggest you submit your abstracts by June 14 so that you would be able to have your abstracts reviewed by the end of June, and to have ample time for your visa application.
We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful Suiyuan Campus of NNU in the golden autumn of Nanjing to engage in profound academic dialogue and cross-disciplinary collaboration!
Note: There will likely be pre-Symposium seminars from October 19–23 during the Semiotics Exchange Week, pending confirmed itineraries of early arrivals among the speakers. Details will be added later.
Getting to NNU (Suiyuan):
For participants traveling from outside Nanjing, you can arrive either by plane or high-speed train. Once you reach Nanjing Lukou International Airport or one of the two main train stations (Nanjing Railway Station or Nanjing South Railway Station), the easiest way to reach NNU (Suiyuan) is by taking a taxi or using a ride-hailing service (e.g., Didi, T3, etc.).
Here is a screenshot of the map for a quick overview of the neighborhood. For a more detailed view, you can also use Google Maps, Baidu Maps, or Amap.
