Volume 1 Issue 1

Abstract

, started to discuss the idea of forming a Nordic Association for English Studies. This informal organising committee agreed on the planning of biannual or triannual English conferences in the Nordic countries according to a fixed rotation order. The English Department, University of Oslo, volunteered to organise the First Conference for English Studies at Lysebu, Oslo, on 17-19 September, 1980. The original idea of the three "founding fathers" was that the new organisation should meet every three years and that papers should be presented within the areas of language, literature and civilisation. It was made clear that NAES was meant to work parallel to the well established Nordic Association for American Studies. The overall aim would be to promote research and cooperation in the Nordic countries and to encourage research projects which could lead to broader networks in and outside the five countries. Since the idea was that membership of the association should be open to any person working in the field of English Studies in all departments of English in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, it was clear that many young scholars, not yet fully established, would be encouraged to participate and to engage in scholarly cooperation. At the first conference in Oslo, an interim constitution was agreed on. It was decided that five members of an executive committee should be elected for a period of three years, one from each country. The committee should consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and one other member of the