Call for Papers

Since its first edition in 1980, the International Conference on Minority Languages (ICML) has been one of the leading international forums for researchers working on minority languages in contexts such as linguistics, education, media and legislation.

In 2027, the ICML will be held for the first time in South Tyrol, Italy. It is being organised by three departments of Eurac Research: the Center for Autonomy Experience, the Institute for Minority Rights and the Institute for Applied Linguistics. The conference is aimed at academics, practitioners and policymakers, with a particular focus on multilingualism and interdisciplinary dialogue.

ICML 2027 welcomes proposals addressing one or more of the main conference themes listed below, to be presented in one of the four presentation modalities described in the section that follows. Each proposal must designate one corresponding author/presenter and include:

• a title and abstract,

• 3–5 keywords,

• the theme that most closely aligns with your topic from the list below,

• the presentation format (individual paper, panel, poster, practitioner experience dialogue),

• the language(s) of the presentation, and

• a biographical note of up to 600 characters (including spaces; approx. 100 words) per presenter.

Each individual may submit a maximum of two proposals. Proposals should be submitted via the online form.

While English will be the official language for correspondence, the conference actively promotes linguistic diversity. Participants are encouraged to use and showcase other languages throughout the event. If you plan to present in a language other than English, please submit your abstract in that language along with an English translation. If your abstract is accepted, you will be kindly asked to ensure that your slides are prepared in English.

A 20-minute presentation followed by a brief discussion. Proposals should include a title and an abstract of around 2,500 characters, including spaces (approx. 350–400 words).

Three to four papers grouped under a shared theme. Submit a panel overview (3,000 characters, including spaces; approx. 450–500 words), including the panel title as well as the titles and short descriptions of each paper. The panel convener coordinates internal timing and discussion. Each panel is allocated up to 90 minutes.

Posters will be displayed throughout the conference with dedicated poster sessions. Posters should be prepared in portrait format, preferably in A0 format (84.1 × 118.9 cm). Other formats are also acceptable, provided they fit within the available display area (100 × 150 cm). Proposals should not exceed 1,900 characters (including spaces; approx. 250–300 words).

Designed for oral-first, non-academic contributions with or without slides. Submit an abstract of 1,900 characters, including spaces (approx. 250–300 words). Contributions should not exceed 20 minutes.

For the purposes of this Call for Papers, the term minority languages is used inclusively. We welcome contributions on indigenous, sign and minoritised languages, recognising their distinct historical, social and political contexts.

Linguistic vitality refers to the capacity of a language to persist, adapt and be transmitted across generations and social contexts. For minority languages, it is shaped by family and community transmission, demographic change, shifting identities and the ability to navigate multilingual environments. While many languages face pressures leading to decline, others demonstrate resilience through revitalisation, new domains of use and everyday practice. This theme invites contributions that explore the dynamics of maintenance and shift, how communities negotiate linguistic continuity within evolving social and spatial contexts, and the role of linguistic landscapes in shaping the public visibility and representation of minority languages.

Education in and for minority languages is key to promoting linguistic and cultural sustainability. Research and policy frameworks – from UNESCO’s advocacy for mother-tongue-based multilingual education to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages – underscore the pedagogical, cognitive and social benefits of learning in and through one’s first language(s). However, implementation is often hindered by political immobility, lack of resources and insufficient teacher training. This theme invites contributions that explore innovative practices, policy interventions and critical reflections on how education systems have been or can be reimagined to support minority languages – not only as subjects of instruction but also as legitimate media of learning across disciplines. We welcome interdisciplinary perspectives that bridge local experiences and global frameworks, and that foreground the agency of minority communities in shaping educational futures.

Media are central to the vitality of minority languages and communities. From newspapers and broadcasting to online platforms and social media, they shape how people access information and can influence how minority languages develop. At the same time, minority language media face persistent challenges of financial sustainability, audience reach and technological adaptation. This theme invites reflections on their role, with a particular focus on how they respond to these challenges.

Legal and policy frameworks play a crucial role in protecting and promoting minority languages. These frameworks, however, differ across states and regions – shaped both by their own historical and political contexts and by international minority rights instruments. This theme invites analyses of legislation, policies and their practical impact on minority languages, with particular attention to the role of autonomy arrangements in safeguarding and supporting them. It also welcomes contributions on the translation of legal texts and legal terminology.

The relationship between minority languages and social or linguistic (in)justice is central to contemporary debates on equity, inclusion and sustainability. In several contexts, dominant sociopolitical structures and a deficitarian perspective on diversity have led to the systemic delegitimisation and marginalisation of minority languages, with a negative impact on equitable learning opportunities, civic participation and identity formation. This theme invites contributions that critically examine how linguistic hierarchies are constructed and contested, and how minority language communities navigate, resist and reimagine their place within broader sociolinguistic ecologies.

Contested languages can be defined as those languages whose linguistic status is disputed and which, as a result, remain unrecognised or unprotected, conditions that make them particularly vulnerable or even endangered. The contested nature of language as a factor of exclusion in minority language policy has become an area of growing scholarly interest. It is closely connected to notions of linguistic hierarchy and linguistic capital, as contested languages are typically perceived as having lower status and are often associated with informal, rural or working-class varieties of speech. This theme invites critical contributions addressing issues such as contested language status, processes of standardisation, linguistic hierarchies, exclusionary language legislation, the vitality of unrecognised languages, and practices of contested language use, approached from both theoretical and empirical perspectives.

Emerging technologies – from artificial intelligence and machine learning to digital communication tools – are transforming how languages are used, learned and transmitted. While they offer new opportunities, they also risk deepening existing inequalities between majority and minority languages. This theme invites critical engagement with the implications of technological change for minority languages, including issues of representation in AI systems, data availability and bias, digital literacy, and the role of technology in shaping the future of languages.

• Submission deadline: 7 September 2026 (23:59 CEST)

• Notification of acceptance: early November 2026

• Conference dates: 22–26 June 2027

The early notification timeline is intended to give participants sufficient time to arrange accommodation and travel at more affordable rates.

The following table provides a provisional overview of the conference fees. Reduced rates apply to participants from low-income economies and to participants from indigenous communities.

ICML 2027 follows principles of inclusivity and ethical research engagement with minority communities.

In line with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), ICML 2027 seeks to facilitate the participation of contributors from indigenous communities, including the possibility of conference fee waivers, subject to available funding. Further information will be provided as part of the registration process.

Further information on registration, fees and accommodation will be published soon.