Bilingualism Matters Symposium 2025

The Bilingualism Matters Symposium (BMS) is an interdisciplinary conference organised by Bilingualism Matters. It is open to researchers as well as practitioners, irrespective of their affiliation with Bilingualism Matters. The BMS aims to stimulate a productive dialogue between researchers in different academic disciplines and practitioners in different sectors of society. BMS will take place in Edinburgh from March 24-25, 2025.

BMS25 is a hybrid conference. The main focus will be on in-person presentations but online participation and discussion will be possible.

The BMS25 plenary speakers are:

• Jubin Abutalebi (Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Italy)
• Claudine Kirsch (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg)
• Viorica Marian (Northwestern University, USA)

The affiliated programme of events includes a language-focused mini tour of Scotland; a conference dinner, a Bilingualism Matters training and networking event with Prof Antonella Sorace and a master class with study visits on “Heritage language policy and practice in Scotland” with Prof Rob Dunbar.

BMS2025 themes

The upcoming Bilingualism Matters Symposium (BMS) intends to bring scholars and practitioners together around the theme of heritage and minority languages. Contributions are welcome from different perspectives pertaining to:

• the acquisition, development and maintenance of heritage and minority languages in both neurotypical and neurodivergent bilinguals,
• educational aspects, such as heritage language education or the education of children with a heritage or minority language background,
• policy issues related to heritage and minority languages,
• social attitudes and perceptions

All methodological and theoretical approaches are welcome.

Besides soliciting submissions from researchers, we specifically encourage the submission of classroom studies, small and large community projects, best practice examples, and experience-based reports from practitioners. A practitioner is defined as any individual working only outside academic institutions (e.g. teachers, policymakers, speech-language therapists).

Different submission and review criteria apply for researchers and practitioners (see guidelines below).

Submission Guidelines for Researchers

• Abstracts will be considered for two types of presentation: oral presentation (20 min) or poster.
• All abstracts must be submitted in English.
• Abstracts cannot exceed the limit of 500 words, excluding tables and references.
• Describe in your abstract how your research is relevant to the needs of the general public, professionals (health, education, etc.), policymakers and others
• Figures, tables, etc. may be added (.jpeg, .jpg, .png, .gif, .webp only.
• Authors can indicate a preference for an oral or poster presentation. However, the Programme Committee reserves the right to decide on the final format
• Abstracts must be submitted directly to the Oxford Abstracts: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/75805/submitter

Reviewing criteria

Our panel of expert reviewers will choose abstracts based on the following criteria:

• Originality - Does the research make a contribution to knowledge?
• Academic rigour - Is the theoretical background clearly described? Are the arguments sound, clear, and logical?
• Availability of results - What is the stage of the research? Are results available?
• Presentation - Is the writing clear? Is it appropriately organised? Is the length appropriate?
• Social relevance - Does the research have the potential to be relevant to non-academic audiences? Is it explained clearly?

Submission for Practitioners

• Abstracts will be considered for two types of presentation: oral presentation (20 min) or poster.
• All abstracts must be submitted in English.
• Abstracts cannot exceed the limit of 500 words, excluding tables and references.
• Figures, tables, etc.s may be added (.jpeg, .jpg, .png, .gif, .webp only).Authors can indicate a preference for an oral or poster presentation. However, the Programme Committee reserves the right to decide on the final format
• Please submit your abstract to Oxford Abstracts: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/75804/submitter

Reviewing criteria for practitioners

Our panel of expert reviewers will choose abstracts based on the following criteria:

• Relevance to the conference theme
• Presentation - Is the writing clear? Is it appropriately organised? Is the length appropriate?
• Social relevance - Does the abstract have the potential to be relevant to wider audiences? Is it explained clearly?

Important dates

Submission deadline: 15th September 2024 23:59 CET

Notification of acceptance: 31st October 2024

Registration open: 20th June 2024

Conference date: 24th & 25th March 2025

Group discounts are available for online participation only.

Bursaries covering fees and accommodation for two nights may become available. Please contact us if you are interested at bms@bilingualism-matters.org

Sign Language interpretation

Subject to the availability of relevant submissions, conference organisers will make the utmost effort to provide relevant sign language interpretation. Please contact bms@bilingualism-matters.org to discuss your requirements.

Location

The conference will take place in Edinburgh (John McIntyre Conference Centre, University of Edinburgh), while virtual attendance will be available via ZOOM. The training event will take place across different locations in Edinburgh.

Conference Proceeding

Please note, authors considering publishing in the conference proceedings will be required to provide a full paper by May 2025.

BMS 2025 Committee

Anna Balas

Frances Blanchette

Francesca Foppolo

Georgia Fotiadou

Beatrice Giustolisi

Tihana Kras

Katarzyna Przybycien

Tanja Rinker

Antonella Sorace

Zvjezdana Vrzic

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to: bms@bilingualism-matters.org