Languages in the City Symposium

Cities are spaces where different cultures and languages meet. How do people use their languages in such urban environments? How are cityscapes marked by multilingualism? How do the institutional spaces in cities (for example, schools, governments and other organisations) engage with multilingual citizens? This two-day symposium, hosted in Utrecht from 7-8 April 2025, explores the multitude of linguistic practices – both formal and informal – that serve to “open up” or “close down” participation in urban spaces for various groups of people.

This symposium takes the notion of metrolingualism as a point of departure, focusing on “the ways in which people of different and mixed backgrounds use, play with and negotiate identities through language” (Otsuji & Pennycook 2010, 240 ) in cities, both past and present. We also consider the institutional aspects of linguistic diversity, in language policy and language practices in urban institutions. The programme will include paper presentations, creative events, networking opportunities, and city excursions. We invite abstract submissions for paper presentations of 20 minutes that focus on topics such as:

• translanguaging and multilingual practices in the city
• linguistic landscapes
• urban youth languages
• the languages of protest and civil disobedience
• memory sites as language sites
• multilingual education in urban schools
• language brokering and multilingual communication practices (e.g. translation, interpreting and codeswitching) in high-stakes settings (e.g. healthcare and migration)
• language and accessibility in urban culture
• linguistic justice in the city.

Abstract submissions for paper presentations can be sent to city.languages.utrecht@gmail.com. Please ensure that your submission includes:

• a title
• an abstract of maximum 250 words (excluding references)
• the names, affiliations and email addresses of the author(s)/presenter(s).

The deadline for abstract submission is 15 September 2024. You will be notified of the outcome of your submission by 30 September 2024. 

Important information

• Abstract submission deadline: 15 September 2024
• Notification of outcome: 30 September 2024
• Symposium dates: 7-8 April 2025
• Location: Utrecht (details to be announced)
• Symposium fee: None. Coffee, tea and lunch will be provided.

For further information, contact city.languages.utrecht@gmail.com.

About the symposium organisers

This symposium is organized in collaboration with the Open Cities Platform. The organising committee, composed of researchers affiliated with the Institute for Language Sciences (ILS)and the Institute for Cultural Inquiry (ICON), is led by Haidee Kotze, professor of Translation Studies at Utrecht University. Haidee’s research focuses on language use in multilingual contexts, with a special interest in translation. Her most recent work investigates the linguistic ecologies of (post)colonial parliaments, exploring the complex interfaces between political and linguistic contestation and democratisation, in both policy and practice.

Organising committee:

• Wafa Al-Alawi
• Debbie Cole
• Christophe Declercq
• Christopher Jenks
• Haidee Kotze
• Manuela Pinto
• Marie Steffens
• Angela Tarantini
• Margot van den Berg
• Rozanne Versendaal
• Bram Vertommen
• Mia You
• Rena Zendedel