You are cordially invited to the annual International Meeting of Young Linguists called

LANGUAGE AS A BRIDGE AND A BARRIER:
LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN
THE (POST)DIGITAL ERA

The conference tradition began in 2000 at the Czech Language Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague and has continued at the Faculty of Arts, Palacký University Olomouc since 2001.

Main topics of the conference:

Language System and Cognition
Grammatical gender and neutrality: How do the morphological structures of different languages respond
to demands for gender neutrality? Is inclusion in language primarily a matter of grammar or lexicon?
Cognitive biases: How do entrenched metaphorical concepts in our language influence our perceptions
of marginalized groups, often without our awareness?

Digital Space and Technologies
Algorithmic diversity: How (non)inclusive are current large language models (LLMs) toward non-codified
varieties, dialects, and sociolects? Does AI enable a form of “linguistic colonization”?
New forms of interaction: How does translanguaging – the fluid switching of codes – in digital
environments reshape our understanding of linguistic norms and standards?

Language, Power, and Politics
Linguistic landscapes: How is the (non)presence of minority languages reflected in our urban and digital
spaces? Who owns public space? Do all languages have equal rights to be heard and seen?
Ecolinguistics: How can the study of language promote the inclusion of non-human actors and foster
reflection on our environmental responsibility? How do metaphorical structures in our languages support
– or hinder – our ability to perceive the climate crisis? How does the pragmatics of politeness change
when speaking with machines?

Applied Linguistics and Ethics
Accessibility of information: How can linguistic knowledge inform the creation of Easy-to-Read materials
and comprehensible communication for people with diverse disabilities?
Research ethics: How can we, as linguists, study communities without exoticizing them or engaging in
“academic extractivism”?

Time and place:

May 18–19, 2026

Faculty of Arts, Palacký University Olomouc
Křížkovského 10, 771 80 Olomouc, Czech Republic

Who can participate?

As Speaker, anyone who:
a) is interested in language, speech, text, and communication,
b) wishes to discuss and listen to others,
c) has completed an M.A./Mgr. programme and has no higher degree than PhD.

As Visitor, anyone who:
meets the criteria under (a) and (b).

What are the conference languages?

Czech, Slovak, English

Call for papers

registration form
abstract submission + standard registration deadline is April 12, 2026
notification of acceptance by April 29, 2026

Who are the organizers?

Department of Czech Studies, Faculty of Arts, Palacký University in Olomouc,
affiliated to the Linguistic Association of the Czech Republic, Prague.

E-mail:

mladi.lingviste@upol.cz

What are the topics to be discussed?

Plenary lecture:

Vít Voženílek,  Department of Geoinformatics FoS
UP Olomouc: Tradiční dialektologie a současná geovizualizace: spojenci v době přerodu vědních oborů

Dialektologicko-kartografická spolupráce vypadá navenek typicky jako jazyková mapa nebo atlas. Ovšem skutečná přidaná hodnota se rodí v méně viditelných fázích tvorby mapy: v převodu nářečního materiálu na prostorově konzistentní data, v jejich klasifikaci, ve volbě vyjadřovací metody, která zajistí obsahovou/dialektickou správnost, snadnou čitelnost a jednoznačnou interpretaci mapy, a v sestavení znakového klíče a legendy. Sedm atlasů nářečí českého jazyka vydaných v letech 2022–2026 staví na těsné kooperaci brněnských dialektologů a olomouckých kartografů/geoinformatiků. Příspěvek poodhalí posluchačům, co se „skrývá“ za tvorbou nářeční mapy a proč řada kartografických rozhodnutí zůstává lingvistům v běžné praxi neviditelná: generalizace, práce s nejistotou, konflikt mezi jazykovou přesností a vizuální analýzou a volba mezi analytickými a syntetickými mapami včetně zavedení nového jednotného znakového klíče. Z kartografického pohledu jsou nářeční mapy specifické tím, že pracují s kategorickými daty (varianty, alomorfy, lexikální typy), které nemají přirozenou metriku. Přitom se očekává, že čtenář bude schopen snadno interpretovat prostorové trendy. Příspěvek ukáže rozdíl mezi tradiční mapovou praxí v Českém jazykovém atlase (velkoplošný, mnohasvazkový, s rozsáhlou mapovou a komentářovou složkou) a nově sestavovanými tematicky zaměřenými atlasy nářečí, které akcentují moderní geovizualizaci, jednotný vizuální jazyk a možnost digitální/multimediální prezentace.

Main programme:

papers on the main and/or related topics

Panel sessions and Workshops

organized as round table sessions with a discussion panel:

Corpus-based data analysis – Beáta Pleyerová

This workshop focuses on the corpus-based analysis of linguistic data and the use of computational methods in investigating and mapping language change. We welcome speakers who analyze language on the basis of corpus data, in both written and spoken forms. Any type of corpus may be used, including web-based, foreign-language, or specialized corpora. Contributions drawing on corpora generated by large language models (LLMs) are also particularly welcome.

Language creativity – Jiří Mánek

The Language creativity workshop aims to provide an inclusive platform for sharing perspectives on language as a dynamic, creative, and open system. We welcome speakers whose contributions address innovative uses of linguistic resources, deviations from established usage, the enrichment of language at all linguistic levels, and the promotion of creativity in language education. Attention is also given to broader contexts, including psychological and social factors.

Czech as a foreign language – Michaela Kopečková

The Czech as a foreign (or second) language workshop is a long-standing part of the International Meeting of Young Linguists. We welcome speakers whose work focuses on the analysis of linguistic features of Czech, comparative perspectives between Czech and learners’ native languages, as well as didactic approaches to teaching Czech as a foreign language, including the presentation of new methods and related topics.

Field research in linguistics – Filip Kubeček & Radek Šuta

This workshop focuses on the methodological aspects of direct, in-person interviews in field-based linguistic research, with particular attention to the ongoing nationwide dialect survey conducted by the Dialectology Department of the Institute of the Czech Language of the Czech Academy of Sciences. We welcome speakers interested in strategies for recruiting suitable respondents for field research, approaches to working with participants, methods of making (audio) recordings, ethical principles of research, and how these aspects have evolved over time.

Programme:

Show conference programme – TBA

Book of Abstracts:

Show Book of Abstracts – TBA

Fees and payments:

the conference fee is:

• Ph.D. students EUR 25 / CZK 650
• other researchers EUR 40 / CZK 950 

the conference fee should be paid to the conference bank account before May 10, 2026 (see instructions below)

Important information to make your payment:

Account number (IBAN): CZ9801000000433855090287
Variable symbol: 99215061
SWIFT code: KOMBCZPPxxx

Contact:

Božena Bednaříková
Michaela Kopečková

Katedra bohemistiky (Department of Czech language)
Filozofická fakulta (Faculty of Arts)
Univerzita Palackého (Palacký University)
Křížkovského 10
771 47 Olomouc

Tel.:  00420 585 633 145
e-mail: mladi.lingviste@upol.cz

Board of reviewers:

doc. Samuel Henri Bidaud, Ph.D. (FA, UP Olomouc)
doc. PhDr. Ivana Bozděchová, CSc. (FA, CU Prague)
PhDr. Robert Dittmann, Ph.D. (FA, CU Prague)
prof. PhDr. Jana Hoffmannová, DrSc. (CLI, CAS)
doc. PhDr. Eva Höflerová, Ph.D. (UO Ostrava)
doc. PhDr. Eva Jandová, Ph.D. (FA, UO Ostrava)
doc. PhDr. Karel Komárek, Ph.D. (FA, UP Olomouc)
prof. Dr. habil. Peter Kosta (University of Potsdam)
prof. Melissa Shih-hui Lin (National Chengchi University, Taipei)
prof. PhDr. Petr Mareš, CSc. (FA, CU Prague)
prof. Mgr. Martin Ološtiak, Ph.D. (FA, Uni Prešov)
doc. RNDr. Vladimír Petkevič, CSc. (FA, CU Prague)
prof. PhDr. Libuše Spáčilová, Dr. (FA, UP Olomouc)
doc. Mgr. Jana Šnytová, Ph.D. (University of Ljubljana)
prof. PhDr. Pavol Štekauer, CSc. (UPJS Košice)
prof. PhDr. Jarmila Tárnyiková, CSc. (FA, UP Olomouc)
doc. Mgr. Silvie Válková, Ph.D. (FA, UP Olomouc)
doc. PhDr. Zdeňka Vychodilová, CSc. (FA, UP Olomouc)
prof. Mgr. Lic. Lenka Zajícová, Ph.D. (FA, UP Olomouc)

Important dates:

April 12, 2026: deadline for abstract submission and standard registration
April 29, 2026: notification of acceptance
May 10, 2026: conference programme
May 10, 2026: fee payment deadline
May 18–19, 2026: conference venue

Board of organizers:

Božena Bednaříková (co-chair)
Markéta Dančová
Michaela Kopečková (chair)
Filip Kubeček
Jiří Mánek
Dineke Štěrbová Pel
Beáta Pleyerová
Tereza Šmigurová Koudelíková
Radek Šuta