13th International Conference-cum-Workshop on Endangered and Lesser-Known Languages
Short Title: ELKL-13
Theme: Preserving Voices, Documenting Heritage in India and Beyond

Date: 17-Dec-2025 - 19-Dec-2025
Location: Madurai, India
Contact: Umarani Pappuswamy and K.Umaraj
Contact Email: [email protected]

Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics; Language Documentation; Sociolinguistics; Translation; Typology

Submission Deadline: 02-Oct-2025

Venue: Madurai Kamaraj University, India
We are pleased to announce the 13th International Conference-cum-Workshop on Endangered and Lesser-Known Languages (ELKL-13), to be held at Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India, from 17–19 December 2025.
Organised by:
Department of Linguistics, Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU)
Centre of Language Planning, Policy, and Sociolinguistics (CLPP-Socio), Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru
In association with:
Society for Endangered and Lesser-Known Languages (SEL)

Conference Series:
Part of the ELKL conference series initiated by the Society for Endangered and Lesser-Known Languages (SEL)
The ELKL conference series was established to create an international forum for sustained dialogue on the world’s most vulnerable languages. Its aim is to bring together scholars, educators, policymakers, technologists, and community members to share research and strategies that address the urgent challenges of language endangerment and loss.
ELKL-13 will be hosted by the Department of Linguistics, MKU, and organised in collaboration with the Centre of Language Planning, Policy, and Sociolinguistics (CLPP-Socio), CIIL, Mysuru, in association with SEL. The 13th edition seeks to strengthen the connection between linguistic documentation and broader social concerns, including revitalisation, sociolinguistic research, language policy and planning, translation, and the application of AI and digital technologies. Comparative and international perspectives are especially encouraged.

Keynote Speaker:
Prof. Gilvan Müller de Oliveira, Head, UNESCO Chair on Language Policies for Multilingualism, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil

Academic Programme:
The academic programme will feature one keynote lecture, two plenary talks, two thematic panels, and one workshop. Details of these will be provided in the next circular/CFP. Paper presentations will be scheduled across three days in several parallel sessions.

Abstracts are invited for paper presentations on the following themes (indicative, not exhaustive):
- Language documentation and description
- Fieldwork methodologies and innovations in documentation
- Typological and descriptive studies
- Revitalisation, literacy, pedagogy, and intergenerational transmission
- Sociolinguistic documentation, vitality, and ethnolinguistic vitality assessments
- Language policy and planning
- Translation, terminology, Indian knowledge systems, and knowledge transmission
- AI and digital technologies
- Digital archiving, ethics, and accessibility
- Interdisciplinary and applied perspectives

Abstract Submission:
Abstracts must be submitted via EasyAbs. The submission link will be provided here shortly.

Abstract Guidelines:
- Abstracts must be submitted in English.
- Length: maximum 300 words (excluding references).
- Each abstract must include a title and 3–5 keywords.
- Authors may submit a maximum of one single-authored abstract and/or one co-authored abstract.
- Abstracts must be submitted as anonymous PDFs (do not include author names in the file; provide author details only in the submission form).
- The abstract should not exceed 2 pages, including examples, tables/figures, and references.
- Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font, with standard margins.

Important Dates:
- Abstract submission deadline: 2 October 2025
- Notification of acceptance: 25 October 2025
- Registration deadline: 15 November 2025
- Full paper submission deadline: 20 November 2025
- Conference-cum-Workshop dates: 17–19 December 2025

We warmly invite scholars, early-career researchers, and community practitioners to participate in ELKL-13 and contribute to a vibrant dialogue on the future of endangered and lesser-known languages.