Bilingualism Matters Symposium on March 24-25, 2025 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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.

Call for Papers:

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?