Did you know that we have over 7,000 natural languages in the world? How about the fact that 43% of the world’s population is bilingual? Well, these and other tidbits are the result of extensive research conducted by linguists all over the world. Every five years, these linguists come together to share more impressive facts during the International Congress of Linguists (IPL). We look at what this congress does and how it has shaped our languages over time.
The Foundation of the International Congress of Linguists (ICL)
With so many languages in the world that keep evolving due to regional influences, linguists have been hard at work to keep up with the changes. Luckily for them, they can always converge at the International Congress of Linguists, which takes place every five years.
This remarkable event falls under the Comité International Permanent des Linguistes (CIPL), also known as the Permanent International Committee of Linguists. While the first such congress took place in The Hague in 1928, the CIPL has since worked with hosts from other countries. These include Rome, Geneva, Cape Town, and Seoul. But while the venues may change, the goals of the congress remain the same, as follows:
- To present research findings.
- To provide a platform where linguists can explore ideas.
The CIPL facilitates these aims by working with various themes that guide the discussions.
Breaking Down the Events
You might be wondering just how the congress goes down. Well, it comes down to thoughtful planning by the CIPL and the event’s hosts, which ensures that the following activities feature:
- Plenary lectures. Nothing gives insights into linguistics like listening to scholars who can align with the theme and provide thought-provoking speeches that will set the pace for the rest of the event.
- Paper presentations. As more information on linguistics becomes available, linguists can address knowledge gaps as they emerge. With researchers presenting their papers and addressing their recommendations and limitations, this becomes much more achievable for the attendees.
- Networking programs. The congress is not just about listening to keynote speakers and delving into research findings. Instead, it also includes many segments where attendees can interact informally, be it through cultural events or networking sessions.
- Specialized workshops. How better to engage with other linguists than to join them in the thematic sessions that tackle various subject areas? Attendees can quickly find the discussions that best interest them, be it multilingualism or historical linguistics.
The event also recognizes strides in the linguistics field by awarding the linguists whose work stands out the most.
An Overview of Previous Themes
Thematic sessions in the congress align with the advancements in linguistics. As such, every five years, attendees get to engage in conversations that reflect the changing interests in this dynamic field. Let’s look at some of the past congresses:
- 2013: The 19th ICL took place this year in Geneva, Switzerland, and its focus was on the “Language-Cognition Interface.” Attendees were able to explore the nuances that exist in the relationship between human cognitive processes and their understanding of languages.
- 2018: The 20th ICL was in Cape Town, South Africa. As attendees got a taste of what this beautiful city has to offer, they also engaged in discussions about “The Diversity of Language.” Not only did they look at the evolution of languages, but they also explored the impacts of diversity and the need to preserve endangered languages in a bid to foster cultural identities.
- 2024: For the 21st ICL, attendees headed to Poznan in Poland, where they engaged in discussions on “Languages-Communities-Technologies.” With emerging technologies like artificial intelligence impacting languages, researchers were curious about the potential impacts on language development. The intersections between the three focus areas ignited a lot of interest, making this quite an engaging event.
Over the decades, the ICL has explored several topics that have shaped research in the linguistics sector, making it the go-to event for anyone with a keen interest in this field.
Successes Over the Years
While the ICL typically takes place over a few days, its impacts last decades. Let’s look at its results over time:
- The creation of a global community. For any field to grow, there is a need for collaboration. In this case, the ICL provides a platform where linguists from all over the world can meet, share ideas, and collaborate on projects, thus paving the way for advancements in this field. As such, linguists have seen the power of working together across borders, which aligns with globalization.
- The preservation of endangered languages. A problem shared is a problem solved. With the ICL shining a light on the impact of extinct languages, it has spearheaded research initiatives that focus on preserving endangered languages. A good example would be the 20th ICL, which looked at how such extinction could affect diversity in African languages. As more people become aware of such effects, more work has been done to record such languages and archive them.
The congress has also been instrumental in influencing inclusive language policies, connecting linguistics to other fields (e.g., language and cognitive science), and promoting diversity.