Traditional sources offer many definitions for the word palaver.  These show a turbulent history in the word’s vernacular—from tribal “palaver huts” where Portuguese traders negotiated with African tribesmen in a dialogue between native and invader, to the colloquial hijack: a “fuss or commotion”—palaver comes to us with some proverbial baggage.

Palaver is UNCW’s new online interdisciplinary journal of student research housed in the Graduate Liberal Studies department. At Palaver, we challenge and embrace the vintage definition of “an often prolonged parley usually between persons of different levels of culture and sophistication.” A palaver then encourages a dialogue of multiple perspectives. We showcase the distinct intellectual pursuits of contributors while merging those diverse academic endeavors into a forum that will give rise to a new dialogue born out of those individual parts.

Palaver seeks submissions that defy the confines of a single discipline and explore the multiple disciplinary influences that the subject necessitates. Within the multitude of university departments, work is being created that values the nonrestrictive and looks beyond the paradigms of the discipline to converge versatility, skill, and ingenuity in the service of its subject. Palaver is a venue for this innovative work, promoting the visionary talents of contributors across an array of interests. We encourage palaver within your work.

If you’re still unclear about what interdisciplinary means, check out this list of things we like.