Full Title: Language and Mobility in Africa
Short Title: LaMiA2025

Date: 13-Nov-2025 - 14-Nov-2025
Location: Casablanca, Morocco

Linguistic Field(s): Applied Linguistics; Language Documentation

Call Deadline: 30-Jun-2025

Background:
Migration into and within Africa has been increasingly motivated by social, political, educational and economic purposes. Movements of peoples in contemporary times, en-masse or in smaller groups have an impact on language practices in multilingual Africa. These movements raise a number of interesting questions such as; What changes are there in contexts where different languages come into contact as a result of different people mobility? How mobile are languages and how stable are the language effects owing from these interactions or contact situations? Who are the main actors in shifting language practices and use? What are the motivations of language use in contexts of migration and mobility and how does this shape language ideologies? What new forms of language practice and multilingualism emerge in such contexts? Are some languages stigmatized and how does a migration or mobility context feed into dominant versus less dominant languages? What role do heritage languages play in day-to-day language practices as well as in use in different societal contexts such as education, civil services, politics, health and law enforcement?

This two-day conference aims to discuss how recent migrations and ongoing peoples’ mobility impacts and interacts with language use in different contexts in Africa and the diaspora with a focus on movements within and into the continent. The conference is an opportunity to engage with some of the questions above and will also be open to exploring other adjacent issues to do with the effects of mobility on language.

Aims of the Conference:
This conference aims to pave the way for establishing a network of researchers interested in this topic, with a view to gaining understanding of the role of mobility in different contexts in Africa. We are aiming to publish a volume or a special issue in a Scopus rated journal on the basis of papers presented at the conference to contribute to a better understanding of the specific impact of mobility on language in Africa.

Themes and Topics:
The conference will be held at the University of Hassan II of Casablanca, and we welcome abstracts adopting conceptual, empirical, or practice-based perspectives on any topic in this area as related to recent migrations and people mobilities in multilingual African contexts. Broad areas include:

- Language change
- Language practices
- Language policy & planning
- Multilingualism
- Child and further language acquisition
- Language contact
- Language diversity
- Heritage languages
- Linguistic minorities
- Indigenous language education
- Language revitalization
- Language and conflict

Abstract Submission Guidelines:
Abstracts should be anonymous and no longer than 350 words and should demonstrate how they fit into the focus of the conference, highlighting the case to be considered in the paper. Presentations will be in the form of 20-minute talks, as well as a poster session. The conference language is English.

Important Dates:
Abstract submission deadline: 30th June 2025
Notification of acceptance: 8th August 2025
Conference dates: 13-14 November 2025, Casablanca, Morocco

The conference will be in-person only
Abstract submission can be done via Easyabs at the following link: https://easyabs.linguistlist.org/conference/LaMiA2025/

Organizing Committee:
Nabila Louriz (Chair), Hassan II University of Casablanca
Nancy C. Kula, Leiden University Centre for Linguistics and University of the Free State, Bloemfontein
Tracey Costley, University of Essex

Keynote Speakers:
Prof. Rajendra Chetty, University of the Western Cape
Dr Miriam Weidl, University of Vienna

Conference Fees:
Regular fees (Africa-based researchers): 40 Euros
Regular fees (Researchers outside Africa): 60 Euros
Students: 20 Euros
There is a limited amount of grant to cover students’ fees. Please make a request at: [email protected]

Venue:
University of Hassan II of Casablanca – Morocco