Workshop on Immigrant Languages in the Americas 17
October 1-3, 2026
Pennsylvania State University
Contact information: Mike Putnam
Plenary speakers at this year's WILA 17:
Prof. Rose Fisher (Michigan State University) Prof. Mark Louden (University of Wisconsin-Madison) This year's Janne Bondi Johannessen Memorial Lecture will be held by Prof. Terje Lohndal (NTNU & The Arctic University of Norway) Travel & lodging information:
Traveling to State College: State College Regional Airport (SCE) has non-stop direct service to (and from) (1) Washington D.C. Dulles International Airport, (2) Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and (3) Philadelphia International Airport. Lodging: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Sleep Inn hotel in State College (about 2 blocks from campus). Those interested in reserving a room for the conference can either book their stay directly online with the following link, or call the Group Sales Office at +1 (814) 238-4025. Visiting Happy Valley: Penn State is nestled in the Nittany Valley, aka 'Happy Valley'. There's always something going on and there are wonderful opportunities to participate in events and to enjoy our natural surroundings. If you're interested in learning more about the area, please visit The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau! |
The 17th annual Workshop on Immigrant Languages in the Americas will be held at Penn State University, October 1-3 2026.
We invite abstracts for 30-minute presentations (20 minutes + 10 minutes for questions) on any aspect of the linguistics of heritage languages in the Americas (e.g., structural, historical, sociolinguistic, or experimental). Research on (im)migrant and heritage languages in the Americas covers a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches, including: formal/structural analyses of heritage language grammars; investigations of bilingual grammars and language contact phenomena; study of diachronic language change in extra-territorial varieties; analyses of social, cultural, and political factors affecting language maintenance, shift, and revitalization; acquisition of heritage languages; synchronic variation in heritage languages, and much more. In addition to supporting that breadth of approaches to the study of heritage languages, WILA has also explicitly been a forum to facilitate cross-linguistic comparisons of all sorts, including different languages and dialects, different socio-historical contexts, varied demographic patterns of (im)migration and settlement, and different historical periods up to the present day. A unique focus of this year’s workshop will showcase the unique cultural and linguistic heritage of Pennsylvania Dutch, a Palatinate-based language that has not only survived, but as also enriched our Commonwealth (and beyond). We especially welcome abstracts that either focus on or include Pennsylvania Dutch. Together, we’ll celebrate this unique heritage, with an entire day dedicated special collection exhibits, new research projects, and excellent ongoing research in Pennsylvania Dutch Studies. Submission instructions: We invite abstracts for 30-minute presentations (20 minutes + 10 minutes for questions) on any aspect of the linguistics of heritage languages in the Americas (e.g., structural, historical, sociolinguistic, or experimental). Abstracts should be anonymous, and should be no longer than a single page. A second page may be included for data, graphics, and references. Please submit your abstracts to EasyAbs using the following link! Submissions open: May 15, 2025 - June 30, 2026 |
