Language and the interface of mono-/multi-/translingual mindsets 

Proposal submissions can be made via: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/78714/submitter

** Submission Deadline – May 17, 2025 **

Considerations of language and working within a multilingual community are fundamental aspects of contemporary society. To explore these realities, the theme of The Applied Linguistics Association of Australia Conference 2025 is: ‘Language and the interface of mono-/multi-/translingual mindsets’. 2025 marks twenty years since esteemed linguist Michael Clyne coined the term ‘monolingual mindset’ in his book Australia’s Language Potential (2005) to describe how Australia’s multilingual society continues to adopt monolingual ways of being. This conference aims to reinvigorate discussions connected with this theme through a contemporary lens by probing the extent to which locality and monolingual mindsets persist within society, with attention also paid to educational and bureaucratic institutions, despite multilingualism’s presence in the community.  

We invite papers on the following sub-themes:

• Real-world challenges and innovations
• Power dynamics in languaging
• Transformative pedagogy
• AI and disruptive technology in applied linguistics

We encourage applied linguists, language teachers, curriculum specialists, Indigenous education practitioners, teacher trainers, and students, who are all stakeholders in our multilingual society to consider sharing their research at The Applied Linguistics Association of Australia Conference 2025, to be hosted by Charles Darwin University in Darwin, NT from November 17-19, 2025. 

Paper proposals: 

We seek proposals for 20-minute paper presentations (followed by 5 minutes of questions) discussing research and/or innovative practice, related to one of the four conference sub-themes.  

Please include:

• Title
• A 250-word abstract
• 50-word presenter biography
• Identification of conference sub-theme alignment
• Identification of three keywords for the paper

Poster presentation proposals: 

We seek proposals for poster presentations discussing research and/or innovative practice, related to one of the four conference sub-themes.  Posters should be printed to A0 size and will be allocated a one-hour time slot. 

Please include:

• Title
• A 250-word abstract
• 50-word presenter biography
• Identification of conference sub-theme alignment
• Identification of three keywords for the poster

Workshop proposals: 

We seek proposals for 50-minute interactive workshops that provide opportunities for participants to explore innovative practice, related to one of the four conference sub-themes.  

Please include:

• Title
• A 250-word overview of the workshop
• 50-word facilitator biography
• Identification of conference sub-theme alignment
• Identification of three keywords for the workshop

 Colloquium proposals: 

We seek proposals for 90-minute colloquia consisting of 3-5 speakers on a coherent topic probing the conference theme and related to one of the four conference sub-themes. The colloquium organiser’s 400-word proposal will outline the aims and focus of the colloquium and emphasise its importance for the conference. An abstract for each paper discussed in the colloquium will also need to be provided. 

Please include:

• Colloquium Title
• A 400-word overview of the colloquium topic noting aims, focus, structure, and importance.
• A 250-word abstract for each paper included in the colloquium, compiled as a single submission.
• 50-word biographies of colloquium organiser and each discussant
• Identification of conference sub-theme alignment
• Identification of three keywords for the colloquium

 The sub-themes driving the conference include:  

Real-world challenges and innovations 

This sub-theme analyses the practical challenges and innovative solutions in language policy and planning. This sub-theme could focus on how policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated in real-world contexts, with a particular emphasis on the relationship with sociolinguistic factors, including linguistic landscape. Papers in this space may also address how language policies address bi-/multilingual education, and the role of policy in transcultural communication and literacies. 

Power dynamics in languaging 

This sub-theme delves into how language interacts with power structures, social hierarchies, and resistance movements. This sub-theme could include critical perspectives of translanguaging and language practices in education in connection with social equalities, empowerment, or cultural resistance. Papers in this space may focus on diverse contexts where languaging plays a role in community, sociopolitical structures, or relate to socioeconomic disparities, and how these dynamics relate to transcultural communication and literacies. 

Transformative pedagogy 

This sub-theme investigates innovative pedagogical approaches that address the linguistic complexities of the classroom. This could include exploring new technologies, blended learning models, curriculum development, and teacher training that integrate translanguaging, bi-/multilingual education, and equitable practices. Papers in this space may focus on applied solutions with proven effectiveness in diverse educational settings, including addressing gaps in education standards and improving teacher cognition and assessment strategies. 

AI and disruptive technology in applied linguistics 

This sub-theme explores the role of artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies in applied linguistics, focusing on their impact on languaging, language teaching, methodological developments, and online experimentation. This could include discussions on AI-driven language learning tools, automated assessment systems, and innovative digital methodologies that transform language education and research practices. Papers in this space may place emphasis on how these technologies can be harnessed to support effective pedagogical strategies, including the genre pedagogy approach, and address challenges in bi-/multilingual education. 

 

In considering what may be explored under each sub-theme, we invite proposals connected with, but not limited to, the following strands:

• Analysis of discourse and interaction
• AI-driven language learning tools
• Automated assessment systems
• Bi-/Multilingualism and bi-multilingual education
• Both-ways education
• Cognitive linguistics
• Community and heritage language education
• Corpus linguistics
• Curriculum development
• Data-driven learning
• Digital and multimodal communication
• English as a lingua franca
• Indigenous languages (incl. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages) in education
• Innovative digital methodologies for language education and research
• Language assessment, testing and evaluation
• Language, culture and identity
• Language planning and policy
• Language revitalisation and cultural agency
• Language teaching (incl. specific languages and TESOL)
• Linguistic landscape
• Pragmatics and intercultural communication
• Psycholinguistics
• Research design and methodology
• Second language acquisition and learning
• Sociolinguistics
• Teacher training
• Translating and interpreting
• Transcultural communication and literacies

Please note that you will require an Oxford Abstracts account to submit a proposal, and this can be created via the submission page. The Conference Committee will advise of proposal outcome no later than July 31, 2025.

Proposal submissions can be made via: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/78714/submitter