Professor
![Irene photo for wsite_0 Dr. Irene Maria F. Blayer](https://brocku.ca/humanities/modern-languages/wp-content/uploads/sites/139/Irene-photo-for-wsite_0.jpg?x55071)
905 688 5550 x3304
iblayer@brocku.ca
Ph.D., M.A., University of Toronto
B.A., First Class Honours, Brock University
Full Professor 2005–
Associate Professor 1999–2005
Assistant Professor 1995–1999
Dr. Blayer received a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Toronto (special areas: Romance Linguistics; cognate areas: General Linguistics), and an MA in Ibero-American Literatures with minor in Romance Linguistics from the same university; B.A., first class honours in Romance Languages from Brock University, and Post-doctoral studies in Linguistics, Linguistic Institute of America, Ohio State University.
Trained as a historical linguist, her interests evolved into larger cross-linguistics and interdisciplinary teaching and research projects. In a broader context, research interests include comparative Romance linguistics; linguistic ethnography and intercultural concepts; text linguistics; diaspora studies; Im/migrant narrative discourse and identity construction; storytelling; orality and literary speech; Among current research projects she is investigating questions of context/intertext and discourse patterns in im/migrant texts, as well as ongoing interdisciplinary studies of the diasporic imaginary. Dr. Blayer has been part of research projects with colleagues in Europe, Brazil, Asia and the United States of America.
She is a participating faculty member of the PhD in Interdisciplinary Humanities.
Books, Articles/Chapters – a selection
- Blayer, I., F., & Scott D. (Eds.) Intersecting Diaspora Boundaries: Portuguese Contexts. New York, Oxford, Berne: Peter Lang Academic Publishers. (2016) 340 pp.
- Blayer, I., F., & Scott. “The Turn to Diaspora.” in Intersecting Diaspora Boundaries: Portuguese Contexts. New York, Oxford, Berne: Peter Lang Academic Publishers. (2016) 3-25.
- Blayer, I. M. F. & Gago, D. “Espaços e estórias na obra de Rodrigo Leal de Carvalho: Encontro com o escritor,” in Journal of Portuguese Diaspora Studies IJPDS. 5 (2016) 111-127.
- Blayer, I., F., T. Alves, Cid, T. & Fagundes. F.C. (Eds.) Portugal pelo mundo disperso. Lisboa: Tinta da China Edições: Lisbon. (2013)ix+426 pp. [Review by Ana Paula In: Revista Colóquio/Letras. Recensões Críticas, n.190, Set. 2015, p. 256-260.]
- Blayer, I., F., T. Alves, Cid, T. & Fagundes. F.C. (Eds.) Narrating the Portuguese Diaspora: Piecing Things Together. New York, Oxford, Berne: Peter Lang Academic Publishers. (2011) xiv+ 298 pp. [Reviewed by Gago, Dora ‘Malhas que a diáspora tece: Narrating the Portuguese Diaspora, PiecingThings Together rtp/comunidades/Jan. 2012; Reviewed by Patricia Baubeta Birmingham University in REVISTA ANGLO SAXONICA SER. III N. 5 (2013) pp243- 252, Reviewed by Ricardo Vasconcelos in Gavea Brown, Vol XXXVI (2014) pp.177-186]. [Announcement: Chronicle of Higher Education.‘New Scholarly Books,’ Nov. 28, 2011]
- Blayer, I. M. F.& Fagundes. F.C. (Eds.). Narrativas em Metamorfose:Abordagens Interdisciplinares. Univ. of Mato Grosso Brazil: Editorial Faculdades Cathedral. (2009) 348 pp.
- Blayer, I. M. F. “Em Torno a Os Silos do Silêncio, de Eduíno de Jesus.” in Almeida, O. T & Simas-AlmeidaL. (Eds). Eduíno de Jesus: A Ca(u)sa dos Açores em Lisboa. Angra do Heroísmo: Instituto Açoreano de Cultura – IAC, (2009) 79-83.
- Blayer, I. M. F. “Códigos identificadores da representação dialectal em Mau Tempo no Canal.” Organon, Manda el rey que onte outra: literaturas da voz na modernidade. University Federal Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre (2008) 111-123.
- Blayer, I. M. F. “Literary Representation of Non-Standardness as a Marker of Dialect ‘Voice’ in MauTempo no Canal: Some Considerations.” Portuguese Literary and Cultural Studies Vol. 11.Massachusetts: Dartmouth University Press (2007): 171-196.
- Blayer, I. M. F. “Vozes dialectais na ficção nemesiana” Estudos sobre Património Oral, ed.Gabriela Funk. Ponta Delgada: University of Açores (2007):37-52.
- Blayer. I. M. F., & F.C. Fagundes (Eds.) Oral and Written Narratives and Cultural Identity: Interdisciplinary Approaches. New York, Oxford, Berne: Peter Lang Academic Publishers. (2007) vii+314 pp. [Reviewed in: University of Toronto Quarterly 79:1, (2010): 546-548; Ipotesi 12: 2, jul./dic. (2008:179 -182); Revista Gragoata 25: 2 (2008): 210-215).]
- Blayer, I. M. F. “Variação lingüística no Português Europeu: O caso do Português dos Açores.” Signum: Estudos da Linguagem 7.1 (2005): 43-60.
- Blayer Irene Maria F., & Anderson C. M. (Eds.) Interdisciplinary Cross-Cultural Narratives in North America. New York, Oxford, Berne: Peter Lang Academic Publishers. (2005) xi+173 pp. [Supported by an external SSHRC grant] Announcement in Chronicle of Higher Education, April, 2005]
- Blayer, I. M. F., & Anderson C. M. Latin American Narratives and Cultural Identity: Selected Readings. New York, Oxford, Berne: Peter Lang Academic Publishers. (2004) ix+258 pp [Reviewed in Iberoamericana 18:4 (2005):222–231] [Supported by an external SSHRC grant] [Announcement in Chronicle of Higher Education, February 6, 2004]
- Blayer, I. M. F. “Distinctive Traits in Romance Dialects: Contributions to the Study of its Causes in the Azorean Speech” Boletim 45, Revista da Área de Humanas. (July-Dec.) (2003) 35–58.
- Blayer, I. M. F. “Vowel Fronting in the Speech of the Azores: Some Observations on the External Factors.”Azorean Popular Culture Today. Ed. Gabriela Funk. Ponta Delgada: University of Açores, Coningra Press, (2003):45–76.
- Blayer, I. M F. “On Vocalic Variations in Portuguese Dialects.” Signum: Estudos da Linguagem 5, (2003): 51–84.
- Blayer, I. M F., & Sanchez M. (Eds.) Storytelling: Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Perspective., New York, Oxford, Berne: Peter Lang Academic Publishers. (2002) xi+175 pp. [Reviewed in: Amerikastudien / American Studies 52: 3 (2007):447-449; Ethnologies 28:2, (2006), 225-229; Journal of American Folklore. 118: 468 (Spring 2005): 246–248; Journal of Folklore and Research: An International Journal of Folklorean Ethnomusicology 41:2–3, (May Dec. 2004); SABER: Revista de Estudos Literarios 16 (June2004):19; Fabula: Journa of Folktales. 44:1/2 (2003):162–163; The Interdisciplinary Journal of Pastoral Studies (2004) 51] [Supported by an external SSHRC grant]
Special Journal Issues
- Blayer, I. M. F. & Scott D. M. InterDISCIPLINARY Journal of Portuguese Diaspora Studies (IJPDS). Vol. 8. (2019) 236 pp; Vol. 5. (2016) 172 pp; Vol. 3.1 (2014) 294 pp; Vol. 2 (2013) 175 pp; Vol. 1. (2012) 217 pp.
[Reerence: European research report on diaspora Pētījums elektroniski ir pieejams Latvijas Universitātes Diasporas un jan 27, 2015
http://www.diaspora.lu.lv/fileadmin/user_upload/lu_portal/projekti/diaspora/1_DMPC_petijums_politiska_parstavnieciba_300115.pdf]
External Awards and Honours (a selection)
–Visiting Scholar, University of Macau;–Honorary member of Golden Key International Honours Society (nominated by Brock’s executive chapter of the Society, The three pillars of the society are academics, leadership, and service); (2016); –Autonomic Commendation of Professional Merit’ Azorean Legislature, Autonomous Regional Government of the Azores, Portugal / International Award (2009);–‘Academia/Education Excellence Award’ COPA Award, Portuguese Canadian National Congress /National award (2008);–Professional Excellence Award.’ Federation of Portuguese Canadian Business and Professionals /National award (2008).
External /Internal Grants (a selection)
University Senate Research Awards, University of Macao; -National Endowment for the Humanities, (USA); -Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada SSHRC; -CNPq Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico and CAPES Brazil; -Direcção Regional das Comunidades, Government of the Azores, Portugal; -FLAD Luso-American Foundation for the Development (FLAD – Lisbon/ Washington); -Office VP Research; -Humanities Research Institute; -Match of Minds, Service Learning Sustainability, Centre for Pedagogical Innovation eLearning Initiatives Brock University; -Science and Technology /Cência e Tecnologia – Portugal; -Ministry of Foreign Affairs Portugal; Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon; -Canada Council: Canadian Creation Grant;-Faculty of Education Decanal Grants:Faculty of Social Sciences Decanal Grant; Faculty of Humanities decanal Grant.
- Founding Joint-Editor, of the InterDISCIPLINARY Journal of Portuguese Diaspora Studies(IJPDS) https://portuguese-diaspora-studies.com/index.php/ijpds) (2012-)
- Founding Joint-Editor of the book seriesInterdisciplinary Studies in Diasporas (https://www.peterlang.com/view/serial/ISD) (2015-)
- Sanchez, AL, Blayer, I., Falk B, & Young S “Research Internationalization at Brock University.” Report of the Research Internationalization Task Force to the Vice President Research. (2016):32 pp.
- Blogue Comunidades RTPAçores (International project) http://www.rtp.pt/acores/comunidades
Speaker Series: Diaspora Inter-Crossings Speaker Series [Founding Joint-Coordinator with Lisa Paul, Cristina Santos, Dawn Zinga]
[The Speaker Series builds on a history of successful engagement of diasporic research by the Brock University colleagues launching this project in 2014– from Humanities to Social Sciences, Education and Health Sciences. The Series is an attempt to celebrate, promote and support diaspora researchers, cutting-edge research and far-reaching community engagement that guides the Univ. in “in responding effectively to the changing environment in research opportunities.”]
Some of the topics presented:
- “Diaspora Social and Institutional Capital: Bridging the Divide”
- “Treacherous Migrations: Exile in Cuban Film, 1960s – 2000s”
- “Reimagining colonialism and diaspora: Lusophone films and Miguel Gomes’ Tabu (2012)”
- “Other Voices: Canadian Diasporic Literature in Heritage Languages”
- “Red Jacket: A Diasporic Adventure Story” “Red Jacket: A Diasporic Adventure Story”
- “Entrepreneurialism, localities and identities: Explorations of female migrants in the Caribbean diaspora”
- “Portuguese Cultural Heritage in the South of China:Is there a Lusophone Macau?”
- “The Ousider as Hero in the Novels of the Franco-Jewish Albert Cohen”
- “From the People’s Forest to the No Man’s-Land of the Urban Jungle: Ngunga’s Adventure and Hollow City”
Community Outreach Course “Im/migrant and Community Outreach Internship” with Cristina Santos, (2015-)
- Brock to host the Niagara Forum on Migrant Worker Issues (The forum is hosted by the Canadian Council for Refugees and the Niagara Migrant Workers Interest Group, and sponsored by the Brock University Im/Migrant Community Outreach Internship course)
https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2017/11/brock-to-host-migrant-worker-forum/ - https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2017/08/experiential-brock-course-aims-to-inspire-social-consciousness/
- https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2015/12/outreach-course-connects-with-migrant-workers/
- http://www.brocku.ca/blogs/humanities/2016/11/09/program-profile-immigrant-and-community-outreach/
- https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2017/08/experiential-brock-course-aims-to-inspire-social-consciousness/
- http://www.brockpress.com/2016/03/spanish-department-pioneers-service-learning-courses-for-faculty-of-humanities/
Dr. Blayer has taught courses in areas such as: historical and comparative Romance linguistics; Dialectological Mapping in RL; Language and Stylistics; Hispanic linguistics, Translation Applications; Diaspora/Diasporas: Cross-cultural Texts and Context; Island Narratives: Re-imagining Ibero-American Insular Worlds; Readings in Medieval Iberian Narratives; Cultures of Western Europe; Testimonial Narratives; Iberian Culture; Analysis and Approaches to Literary Texts, Im/migrant and Community Outreach/Borderland Praxis Internship.
Before joining the Faculty of Humanities at Brock University, she taught at Queen’s University, and the University of Toronto.
University service (a selection):
- University Senate;
- Senate Governance Committee;
- Tenure and Promotion (Humanities a nd Social Sciences);
- Research Internationalization Standing Advisory Committee to the VPR;
- Chair Student Appeals Board;
- Academic Integrity Committee;
- Academic Leaves (Sabbaticals);
- Advisory Committee on the Provost;
- BUFA Hiring Advice;
- Advisory Committee (AC) for Provost Appointment;
- Advisory Committee (AC) for Provost re/appointment;
- Advisory Committee Dean of Humanities Appointment;
- Brock Research Internationalization Task-Force
- Senate, Vice-Chair Research;
- Senate Advanced Fund Adjudication;
- Senate Undergraduate Students Affairs ;
- Senate Chair of Admissions;
- Senate Pre-Service Admissions;
- Senate, Nominating Committee;
- Faculty of Education Advisory Committee;
- Senate Library Committee;
- Research Ethics Board Committee
- International Council;
- Graduate Program Director Designate – HUMA PhD;
- Program Committee-Interdisciplinary PhD in Humanities;
- Acting Director International (Intercultural) Studies