19th Methods in Dialectology and Language Diversity International Conference
Conference Theme: “Rethinking Our Assumptions”
Building on the Indigenous focus of Methods XVIII in Melbourne 2024, the conference theme encourages researchers to also reflect on their tradition’s presuppositions. For instance, UBC is built on unceded Indigenous land, as is much of Canada. Dialectologists have often played key roles in processes of colonization, enabling the dominance of colonial languages and ignoring or subjugating Indigenous languages. As conduits in the creation of nation states, dialectologists have had their fair share in the making and unmaking of (standardized) varieties. We, as their in-field successors today, ought to confront our own work with that disciplinary legacy.
UBC will be hosting the 19th “Methods” conference from Aug 4 – 7, 2026
Methods in Dialectology and Language Diversity is a triennial conference that traditionally alternates between Canada and Europe. Originally a forum for the discussion of methodological issues in dialect research, Methods conferences have progressively extended their topical range and now include the whole spectrum of regional, historical, and social language variation, which is reflected in the addition of “Language Diversity”. The Methods series welcomes contributions investigating any of the world’s languages.
Call for papers... (Abstract deadline: 30 November 2025 (results communicated by 21 Jan. 2026)