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Conference
theme
The overall theme for this conference is
“Language Crossroads: Standards, Identity,
and Multilingual Complexity"
However, the conference also invites presentations on other topics relating to the field of linguistics. This year, we welcome in particular presentations addressing the following two themes:
1. Linguistic/Language in the Pacific region
One of the purposes of the conference is to bring together language workers, researchers, linguists, anthropologists, creolists, translators and educators who are working on languages in the Pacific region and to promote collaboration and research in this area; as the region is arguably the most linguistically diverse in the world. The presentations should capture the broadly interdisciplinary approach to linguistics inquiry including diverse approaches to linguistic theory and analysis especially on work done on Papuan and Austronesian languages. The conference also encourages presentations which celebrate and promote the United Nation’s declaration of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL2022-2032).
2. Standard of English in Papua New Guinea
The country experienced a drastic fall of standard of English competency in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. An example is drawn from the UOG English Enrichment Diagnostic Test administered in 2023. The alarming results indicated that only 3% of the first-year students who took the test were competent English users, while 97% of the students were considered incompetent users. Further researches indicate poor quality of education in PNG linking to students’ delayed age of onset of learning English and their scores (Temple, et al., 2019) and the lack of establishing English performance standards for both teachers and students (Vetunawa, 2008). The aim of the conference is to bring teachers, researchers, educators, government agents, NGOs, and literacy workers together to address this national issue and provide recommendations to assist with resolving the issues encountered with English.
Additional topics include
• Documentation and description of indigenous languages
• Language Diversity and Endangerment
• The impact of English on indigenous languages
• Language policies and their implications for multilingual education.
• Failing standards of English in Papua New Guinea
ABSTRACTS
We invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit abstracts for presentations on topics related to the two conference themes.
Abstract Content:
1.Your choice of title will help us group your paper accordingly into categories to form thematically cohesive sessions; please make sure the title clearly reflects the essence of your presentation.
2. State the methodology, design, key findings, recommendations and etc. to ensure that your paper is an empirical research paper and not just a concept paper.
3.State the main point or argument of your research/presentation.
4.Summarize the significance of your research.
Deadline: 30th June, 2025
Abstract Submission:
We invite abstracts for 20-minute presentations followed by 10 minutes of interactions. Abstracts(max: 400 words) should be no more than one A4 page in length, including references and examples. They should be anonymous and set in a minimum of 12 font size and styled in Times New Roman. They should be in word format and the file name should start with LSPNG2025, followed by an underscore and then the first author’s surname, e.g. LSPNG2025_surname. Abstracts will be peer reviewed by the program committee. Abstracts must be submitted electronically and sent to
About us
The University of Goroka (UoG) is a university in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. It provides teaching in four schools (Postgraduate Studies, Education, Science & Technology, and Humanities) and in two institutes (Technical Vocational Education & Training and Distance & Flexible Learning). he university was originally established in 1965 as a primary teachers' college. In 1967, it became a secondary teachers' college, and in 1992, a campus of the University of Papua New Guinea. In January 1997, the campus was independently established as the University of Goroka.
The Linguistic Society of Papua New Guinea (LSPNG) is the oldest active academic association in Papua New Guinea and the publisher of the "Language and Linguistics in Melanesia" journal. It brings together linguists and linguistic research on languages on Melanesia from all over the world.
Publication Website: www.langlxmelanesia.com