Syntax, Phonology and Language Analysis 18
Short Title: SinFonIJA 18
Theme: Syntax, Phonology and Language Analysis 18

Date: 26-Sep-2025 - 27-Sep-2025
Location: Skopje, North Macedonia
Contact Email: [email protected]
Meeting URL: https://sites.google.com/view/sinfonija-18/

Linguistic Field(s): Discourse Analysis; Phonology; Psycholinguistics; Semantics; Syntax

We invite proposals from all areas of theoretical linguistics, comparative linguistics, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, language acquisition, sociolinguistics and discourse analysis for the main session. This year, SinFonIJA will feature a special workshop on Balkan languages (see below).

SinFonIJA 18 is planned as an in-person event. The official language of the conference is English.

Invited plenary speakers:
Eleni Bužarovska - Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia
Motoki Nomachi - Slavic-Eurasian Research Center at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
Petra Mišmaš - Centre for Cognitive Science of Language, University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia

Workshop on Balkan languages

The workshop will offer the opportunity to discuss Balkan languages from different perspectives. Therefore, we encourage proposals that examine the evolution, transformation, and interactive relationship of Balkan languages, along with the challenges faced by Balkan languages study programs. Some of the main topics that the conference aims to cover in this special workshop are related, but not limited to the following:
- Structural features, contemporary tendencies and history of Balkan languages
- Current contacts between Balkan languages
- Microvariation and sociolinguistic aspects of Balkan languages
- Balkan languages, bilingualism and multilingualism
- History of Balkan linguistics
- Pragmatic aspects of Balkan languages
- Balkan languages and linguistic corpora
- Challenges in teaching Balkan languages
- Benefits and challenges of learning Balkan languages with the aid of artificial intelligence

We also hope this workshop will explore some of the following questions, as well as other connected inquiries:
What are the convergent and divergent tendencies of Balkan languages and dialects ​​in contemporary and historical terms?
What are the mechanisms of contact-induced language changes in Balkan languages?
What is the status of Balkan linguistics in contemporary linguistics?
What are the challenges facing Balkan languages ​​today?
What are the challenges of universities which offer study programs on Balkan languages?

Abstract and submission guidelines:
- Abstracts should be in PDF format.
- Abstracts should be maximally 2 pages long including references, examples, and figures (about 500 words of text + figures, references, and examples). 2.5 cm margins on all sides, Times New Roman or similar, font size no smaller than 12 pt,
- Examples can be incorporated into the text (rather than included separately at the end).
- Abstracts must be anonymous and must not reveal the identity of the author(s) in any way.
- Authors may submit two abstracts maximum, only one abstract may be single-authored.

Please indicate your preferred mode of presentation (talk or poster) in the submission form.
Please indicate if your submission is intended for the Balkan languages workshop.

All sessions will be in-person. Possible session formats include:
- A talk in the general session: a 20-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute discussion period.
- A poster (details on the size of posters to follow)
- A workshop presentation: a 20-minute presentation which will be included in the longer special workshop session.

Please submit abstracts via: https://openreview.net/group?id=SinFonIJA/2025

Important Dates:
Abstract submission deadline: April 15, 2025
Notification of acceptance: end of June 2025
Conference: September 26-27, 2025