Call for Papers

As a premier gathering of international sociolinguists, the biennial Sociolinguistics Symposium has emerged as a unique and innovative forum to develop and exchange new ideas, broaden the scope of the discipline, and create new academic networks. From its beginnings as a small meeting of UK-based academics in 1976, it has grown into the largest sociolinguistic conference in the world.

The 25th Sociolinguistics Symposium (SS25) – the conference’s first appearance in Australia, on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja [Perth land of Noongar people] – explores diverse manifestations of Ordinariness and Innovation.

Innovation in language practice is increasingly celebrated, at times even romanticised – however this inadvertently invents the linguistic Other through exoticising the ordinary epistemologies of language. Conversely, through a contemplating of what ordinariness entails or how it is imposed, the complex natures of communities, patterns, and hierarchies are often interrogated. Continued explorations of Ordinariness or Innovation across ecologies, landscapes, platforms, modalities, pedagogies, disability and neurodiverse cultures are required to further critical assessments for theory and application. Considerations of languages on the periphery – Indigenous and migrant, minority and endangered – including engagement with everyday policy and practice, and development of innovative technologies, are particularly timely, in light of the UN’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022-2032).

SS25 invites abstracts for papers, colloquia or posters addressing the conference theme, as well as other contributions focusing on current and innovative themes and theoretical challenges in sociolinguistic enquiry.

Presentation modes

SS25 invites submissions for (1) individual papers, (2) thematic colloquia, (3) posters, and (4) digital posters.

Both onsite and online presentations are possible.

1) INDIVIDUAL PAPERS

These comprise presentations on original research by one or more authors, of 20 minutes, plus 10 minutes for a brief Q&A session.

2) THEMATIC COLLOQUIA

Thematic colloquia aim to provide in-depth and nuanced perspectives on a singular topic. A typical thematic colloquium will comprise up to 6 presenter slots, of maximum 20 minutes each, scheduled over 2 hours, inclusive of an optional discussion or discussant slot. However, in order to improve engagement, new and innovative ways of structuring the sessions within a colloquium are also encouraged, as long as they adhere to the 2-hour frame.  

Regardless of the format, colloquia proposals should include: (i) one abstract indicating the title of the colloquium, its theme, scope, and order of presenters, and (ii) individual abstracts for all papers to be presented in the colloquium. The colloquium organiser will need to submit this at one go via the Currinda submission portal. The colloquium organiser will need to submit this at one go via the Currinda submission portal.

The limit of the entire colloquium proposal is 2000 words.

3) POSTERS

In-person participants are encouraged to consider poster presentations, because of the opportunity they provide for extended discussion with other researchers. Posters are effective for information that can be presented visually (e.g., charts, graphs, tables, diagrams), and posters should capture their topic, findings, and ideas in easily understood printed text and graphics.

Poster sessions will run during lunch time and coffee breaks throughout the symposium. These sessions are an informal blend of brief presentation and interactive dialogue with conference attendees. Poster presenters should remain next to their poster session throughout their assigned period.

4) DIGITAL POSTERS

Online participants will have the opportunity to present their research and findings in the form of digital posters. These comprise a MP4 format video presentation of maximum 3 minutes, and should centre on one main theme or finding, and present useful or new information. Digital posters should capture the topic, findings, and ideas in easily understood digital graphics, and presenters should try to leave the audience with an understanding of what they are doing, why it is important, and what they hope to achieve.

Digital posters will be screened during lunch time and coffee breaks throughout the symposium. The presentations will also be available for viewing on our online conference platform.

Further detailed instructions about the format and preparation for the on-site and online presentation will be communicated after acceptance of the abstracts.

Abstract submission policies

Abstracts should all be no longer than 300 words, including references (if any), and be submitted via the online conference tool (see below).

Due to space and time-tabling restrictions, each individual may submit only one abstract as the sole/first author of a paper. In addition, each individual may also convene a thematic colloquium, and act as a discussant on another colloquium. Individuals can be a co-author on another paper, or papers.

The presenting author of papers in parallel or panel sessions, panel convenors, and attending participants must register for the conference.

While submissions will indicate their presentation mode, there may be instances where the conference organisers may suggest an acceptance of a submission in another mode (e.g., poster).

Abstract submission guidelines

Abstracts may only be submitted online through Currinda. Authors will require a profile on Currinda in order to submit an abstract. This profile will then be used for registration for the conference.

When logging in to Currinda, you will be asked to create a profile (unless you already have a Currinda profile) and then, prompted to submit an abstract for the conference.

Whilst you can come back to your submission(s) at any time prior to the submission deadline, please ensure you proceed through the entire process to complete your submission. If you fail to do this, your abstract will not be reviewed.

You can log back into the system and edit your abstract submission at any time until 17:00 (AWST) on 30 September 2023. Simply log into your Currinda profile, select the abstract to amend and navigate through the top tabs to the section(s) you wish to edit.

An automatic acknowledgement email will be sent once your abstract submission is complete.

Abstracts must:

• Be typed straight into the text field in Currinda. It is recommended that authors have this text ready to copy and paste (ensuring that no formatting carries across).
• Not exceed 300 words, excluding titles, authors and affiliations.
• Show only the invited speaker(s) as presenting authors by ticking the appropriate box.
• Include the first name, last name, and affiliations of all authors separately.
• Include a succinct overview of the intent and purpose of the presentation.
• Include a supporting document or image if required.
• Include a title that is less than 20 words. Please ensure the title is written in sentence case, not all caps.
• Include a biography of less than 60 words for the presenting author in the Currinda profile.

Please be aware that the submitting author (if different to the presenting author) will be the one linked to the abstract and will receive all relevant information via email. It is the submitting author’s exclusive responsibility to ensure that all emails to do with the abstract are passed on to the presenting author, and any other relevant parties.

Please note that your abstract will only be accepted into the final program if you have a valid registration to attend the conference.

Evaluation of abstracts

Paper abstracts and proposals for thematic panels will be evaluated by the Conference Scientific Committee. Key criteria include thematic relevance and innovation, and theoretical framing and significance.