You are invited to join the Learned Society of Wales, Royal Irish Academy and the Royal Society of Edinburgh for a Celtic Academies Alliance symposium on languages. In this event, we will approach languages from every direction in an interdisciplinary and international gathering.
The event will unite researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from Wales, Scotland, and Ireland to explore the shared challenges and opportunities surrounding languages. It aims to reinvigorate language-focused disciplines, inform inclusive policy, and demonstrate the added value of cross-national collaboration.
The Celtic Academies Alliance brings together the national academies of Ireland, Scotland and Wales to further promote and encourage co-operation, collaboration and shared learning across the three academic and research systems.
Speakers and further details will be released soon.
Programme
10:00-10:15 Arrival
10:15-11:30 Panel session one: Celtic languages
This panel brings together experts from across the field of Celtic languages to discuss the histories, communities, national policies, and cultural impacts of each language. Ultimately, the session’s aim is to determine what the communities surrounding each language can learn from each other.
Chair- Professor A G Boyd Robertson: Chair, Highland NHS Board
Professor Robert Dunbar: Chair of Celtic Languages, Literature, History and Antiquities, University of Edinburgh
Professor Enlli Thomas: Pro-Vice Chancellor, Head of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, and Professor of Education Research,
Bangor University
Professor Diarmait Mac Giolla Chriost: Director of Postgraduate Research Studies, School of Welsh, Cardiff University
11:30-11:45 Break
11:45-13:00 Panel session two: World languages
This session features a diverse panel representing both national and international language expertise. Together, they will consider the role of World languages in education, society, and international engagement.
Chair – Lynn Scarff: Executive Director, Royal Irish Academy
Professor Claire Gorrara: Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Public Engagement) and Dean, School of Advanced Study, University of London
Karen Ruddock: Director, Post-Primary Languages Ireland
Professor Catherine O’Leary: Professor of Spanish & Co-Chair, Scottish Arts and Humanities Alliance, University of St Andrews
Dr Phoebe Teh: Reader in Social Computing, Wrexham University
13:00-13:45 Lunch
13:45-15:00 Panel session three: Language and Disability
How can we ensure inclusive approaches to language and communication? This session features contributions from specialists in British Sign Language, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Additional Learning Needs and language accessibility.
Chair – Dr Christopher Shank: Senior Lecturer in Linguistics (Language Variation and Change), Bangor University
Helen Foulkes: British Sign Language Translator, Helen Foulkes Translations
Rebecca Day: PhD candidate in Bilingualism, Bangor University
John Conama: Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin
15:00-15:15 Break
15:15-16:00 Closing session: Languages and Culture
Chair- Professor Sarah Skerratt: Chief Executive, Royal Society of Edinburgh
Professor A G Boyd Robertson: Chair, Highland NHS Board
Lynn Scarff: Executive Director, Royal Irish Academy
Dr Christopher Shank: Senior Lecturer in Linguistics (Language Variation and Change), Bangor University
Accessibility
- The event will be held in Tŷ Pawb, Wrexham. For more information about accessibility and parking please visit: Plan your visit – Tŷ Pawb
- Please note any accessibility requirements when completing the registration form.
Photography
- Photographs will be taken throughout the event, if you do not wish to be included in any images please let us know.
If you have any enquiries about this event, please contact us at events@lsw.wales.ac.uk