The annual SALALS conference attracts a diverse range of presenters, both nationally and internationally, stimulating discussions through papers, poster presentations, and workshops. It also features thought-provoking plenary sessions and offers abundant opportunities for networking.
This year’s keynote speakers include Professor Mario Lynn de Souza, a world-renowned decolonial and literary scholar from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and Professor Quentin Williams, a leading scholar in the Kaaps language space and Director of the Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research at the University of the Western Cape.
The theme of the conference is “Traditions, Transformations, and African Thought: Imagining Linguistics in Africa for the 21st Century.” In the context of South African imagery, the concepts of “traditions,” “transformation,” and “African thought” are central to understanding our diverse pasts and present realities.
Traditions represent a connection to the past, one that we experience in the present and use to bridge into the future. Transformation, as a concept of change, is inevitable and necessitates a renewed understanding of language.
It is crucial that this renewed understanding of language is embedded in African thought, while also exploring Africa’s positioning in global linguistic scholarship in the 21st century.
The conference will also highlight the transdisciplinary nature of Linguistics, emphasising its intersections with a wide range of fields, including – but not limited to – Medicine, Education, Gender Studies, Law, Governance and Politics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Technology.
Join us in unlocking knowledge at the intersection of language, society, and innovation, fostering dialogue that inspires new ideas and collaborative efforts for a brighter future.
Event Details:
Date: 25 – 27 June 2025
Time: 08:00
Venue: Nelson Mandela University Business School, Second Avenue Campus.