2026
ALASA Conference
Airport Travel Plan for Delegates
For delegates who may need travel assistance, they are advised to use the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Harare (HRE). Arrangements to ferry delegates from Harare to Gweru are being made and information will be updated in due course.
Proposed Theme:
Repositioning Indigenous Language Systems Through Digital Language Resources to Advance African Language Development and Identity
Background
The proclamation of the UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032) emphasises the need for a global, urgent commitment to protect linguistic diversity and uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide. In this context, the 27th ALASA Conference invites participants to join discussions on the theme Repositioning Indigenous Language Systems through Digital Language Resources to Advance African Language Development And Identity.
This Conference offers a platform for delegates to engage in meaningful dialogue on how AI presents both transformative opportunities and challenges related to language documentation, policy and ethics, identity, multilingual applications, literature, applied linguistics, and digital heritage.
Sub-themes
Include (but are not confined to) the following areas:
1. Digital Humanities
- •Digital humanities and inclusive pedagogies
- •Intersectionality and the digital humanities
- •Digital archives, corpora, glossaries, and term banks
- •Digital humanities and the preservation of marginalised voices
- •Human Language Technology (HLT) and Indigenous language dictionaries
- •Indigenous languages and social media
- •AI and digital media platforms
Submission Dates
Abstract Submission
Deadline: Tuesday, 1 March 2026
Abstracts for workshops and papers
Acceptance Notification
Final Notification: 31 March 2026
Final notification of acceptance of abstracts
Abstracts should be sent to: alasa2026@staff.msu.ac.zw
Guidelines to Authors/Presenters
Abstract Requirements
- Papers: 150-200 words
- Workshops: 250-400 words
Presentation Format
- Oral Presentations: 20 minute talk + 10 minutes Q&A
- Workshops: 60 minutes duration
- Workshops require minimum of two authors
Submission Details
Please include the following details:
- Full title of the paper/workshop
- Title, full names and surname of all authors
- Institutional affiliation
- Email, phone, fax, postal address
- Corresponding author name (if multiple)
Registration With Automatic Membership
For Students
Early Bird Registration
$173.44
or equivalent in Rand at prevailing bank rate
Inclusive of R300 ALASA membership fee
Closes: Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Registration after 31 March 2026
$202.33
or equivalent in Rand at prevailing bank rate
Inclusive of R300 ALASA membership fee
For the purposes of the conference, a student is a person who has registered for a Master's or Doctoral degree at a recognised institution of higher learning.
For Non-Students
Early Bird Registration
$289.11
or equivalent in Rand at prevailing bank rate
Inclusive of R300 ALASA membership fee
Closes: Monday, 31 March 2026
Registration after 31 March 2026
$318.04
or equivalent in Rand at prevailing bank rate
Inclusive of R300 ALASA membership fee
Important Notes:
- • No refunds. Substitutes are welcome at no extra cost (student for student, non-student for non-student).
- • If 2025 membership is already paid, send proof to: alasa2026@msu.ac.zw copying sanele.nsele@wits.ac.za.
- • For questions, contact sanele.nsele@wits.ac.za.
Travel, accommodation, subsistence, etc. related to delegates' participation in the conference must be covered by the delegates or their institutions, regardless of the abstract acceptance. ALASA and its conference organisers are not liable and hold no responsibility for any of these costs.
Ready to Submit Your Abstract?
Join researchers, academics, and industry professionals from around the world. Submit your abstract today and be part of this exciting conference.