Call for Papers/Workshops

SALALS Conference 2022

2nd call for papers

The annual conference of the Southern African Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Society (SALALS) will be hosted in Potchefstroom by the North-West University’s School of Languages from 27 to 30 June 2022. This will be an in-person conference.

Bridging the gaps

The notion of “bridging gaps” is prominent in linguistic, applied linguistic and language practice research. In linguistics, some scholars are involved in bridging theoretical gaps or interdisciplinary gaps, and there is a call for more scholars to be involved in bridging potential gaps between descriptive work and theory building. In applied linguistic work, for example in the field of language-in-education policy, there is a continuous conversation about the gap between language policies and struggles for implementation. In a recent issue of SALALS (2021), the language practice community addressed the gap between research and language practice.

With this call for papers, scholars are invited to share their research within the broad ambit of bridging the gaps that are relevant to their work.

We would also like to bridge the gap between emergent and more experienced researchers by inviting our emergent scholars to submit abstracts. Please take note of the Young Linguist Award that is presented annually to the best first-time presenter. This award entails a year’s free membership to SALALS as well as a R2000 cash prize this year.

The conference programme will consist of a mixture of workshops and paper presentations.

Workshop proposals and abstracts for papers and posters are invited in all areas of general linguistics, applied linguistics and language practice.

Important dates:
  • Submission deadline for abstracts for papers, posters, and workshops: 31 March 2022 at midnight (23:59) South African Standard Time.
  • Notice of acceptance: In the week of 9 May 2022.
  • Registration for the conference: From 25 May 2022 to 10 June 2022.

Abstract guidelines:

  • All abstracts must be submitted online via EasyChair. Please use the following link: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=salals22
  • Abstracts are invited for papers, posters, or workshops in all areas of general linguistics, applied linguistics and language practice. Please indicate your preference for paper, poster, or workshop in the keywords field of your abstract submission and also in the header of your abstract.
  • The length of the abstract should not exceed 500 words, including examples and references.
  • Authors who wish to submit more than one abstract should fill out a separate online submission form for each abstract.
  • All abstracts will be peer-reviewed, and the final selection will be made by the organising committee. Please do not include any reference to your name if you are uploading a PDF document as well, as the peer-review process will be done anonymously.
  • No accepted abstract will be included in the programme unless registration has been completed and payment has been received. Registration and payment of all conference fees should be made by 10 June 2022.
  • Abstracts may be submitted in any official language of South Africa. Should you wish to submit an abstract in a language other than English, please accompany your abstract with an English translation.
  • Please indicate in the heading of your abstract in which language you are planning to present your paper/poster/workshop.
  • It is the author’s own responsibility to submit a correct abstract. Any errors in spelling, grammar or scientific fact will be reproduced in the conference booklet as submitted by the author. We will, however, offer authors the chance to revise their abstracts according to the reviewers’ comments and resubmit the abstract before 3 June 2022 to be included in the conference booklet.

Abstracts for workshop proposals:

  • Proposals for workshops should also be submitted via the EasyChair platform.
  • Abstracts for workshops should include: 1) a title; 2) a short description of a) the aim of the workshop; b) the topics that will be covered; and c) the planned structure of the workshop.
  • Please include the name(s) (and institutional affiliations) of the workshop coordinator(s) as well as a list of proposed presenters.
  • Please also indicate the amount of time needed for the workshop. However, the conference organisers will negotiate the amount of time available on the programme for the workshop with the coordinator(s) after the completion of the review process.

Contact details:

Ms Nina Brink: Nina.Brink@nwu.ac.za

Mr DJ Cloete: Dj.Cloete@nwu.ac.za

Sponsors and partners:

SAALT