Introduction: The Shock of War

The Introduction sets the context in which the contributions to the Handbook have been made. It reviews how the sub-discipline of languages and conflict has emerged, where it is now located intellectually, and what specific ethical and technological issues it confronts. It sketches in the relationship with related disciplines, particularly linguistics, translation studies, war studies, cultural studies, gender studies and transnational history. It highlights the interweaving of academic research and practitioner reflections. And it concludes by outlining the structure of this Handbook, which seeks not only to map and shape an exciting new interdisciplinary area but also to develop new perspectives on the role of languages in situations of conflict.