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Language Practices

Research traditions in writing studies are represented through our language practices, and the language of conferences and publication is often rooted in politics and identities. In addition, different regions, languages, and traditions develop their own perspectives and methodologies to address their interests and research problems. In approaching the language policy for the IWAC 2025 conference, we acknowledge the difficulty of prescribing a strict language policy that fully respects the language and identities of the scholars, researchers, teachers, and students who are a part of the international WAC community.

Following Navarro et al.’s position statement (2022), we recognize that promoting English as the lingua franca may not be viewed as inclusive and may stifle the innovation of global scholars who do not use English as a part of their research practices. Furthermore, as Gaspard (2023) notes, we recognize that the implementation of a strict language policy often results in tension between the policy makers and the policy implementers. Additionally, such policies can lead to a culture that does not promote connection and community.

As such, rather than present a language policy, we aim to enact inclusive practices regarding language for the IWAC 2025 conference that are guided by shared goals. Our hope is that participating scholars will bring their own knowledge and practices to bear and will be able to share their work authentically with the international WAC community.

Principles and Goals:

  • We view choosing a language for presenting as a sociolinguistic right (Navarro et al., 2022). Presenters are encouraged to present their research in the language of their choice. 
    • This decision should be made clear in the submitted abstract so it may be communicated to conference attendees on the schedule.
  • We encourage the use of technologies and strategies to make content accessible for participants from around the world.
  • We encourage the inclusion of multiple ways for participants to access content.
  • We support decentering English as the lingua franca of IWAC 2025, even as we recognize its value as a common language.
  • While we use English on our websites and in our email communications, we seek to provide tools that allow access in multiple languages to the information they contain.

Strategies that may be helpful in planning for IWAC 2025

  • The use of written slides that incorporate multiple languages
  • Closed captions for videos or any multimedia that is shared in presentations.
  • The use of extended handouts that may include translations
  • The use of code-switching and translanguaging throughout presentations and panels (Navarro et al., 2022). This includes the decision to italicize or not any words outside of English to more fully engage in code-meshing and translanguaging practices as presenters see fit.

Sources:

Gaspard Helaina. (2023). Principles for language policy implementation. In Michele Gazzola, François Grin, Linda Cardinal, Kathleen Heugh (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Language Policy and Planning>. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429448843

Navarro, Federico, Theresa Lillis, Tiane Donahue, Mary Curry, Natalia Ávila Reyes, Magnus Gustafsson, Virginia Zavala, Daniela Lauria, Annabelle Lukin, Carolyn McKinney, Haiying Feng, and Désirée Motta Roth. (2022). Rethinking English as a lingua franca in scientific-academic contexts: A position statement. Journal of English for Research Publication Purposes, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 143-53, https://doi.org/10.1075/jerpp.21012.nav