Conferencias plenarias
ALEJANDRO CURADO - EMMA MARSDEN - MARKO MODIANO - CARMEN PÉREZ-LLANTADA
Alejandro Curado
University of Extremadura
Evolution of Languages for Specific Purposes and Multilingualism: The AELFE perspective
LSP (Languages for Specific Purposes) have noticeably evolved over the past few decades. AELFE (European Association of Languages for Specific Purposes), a pioneering LSP association in Spain, can work as a suitable backdrop where to situate these changes. As Upton (2012) observes, the evolution and expansion of learning purposes, contexts, and needs has led to shifting focuses in LSP (e.g., from more emphasis on words, structures, and texts to prioritizing genres and interactions). These changes have been also experienced through conferences, projects, and other events related to the association. In the state of the art on LSP in Spain described by Aguado de Cea and Curado Fuentes (2012), it was shown that research and teaching approaches and practices have varied since the early 90s, for example, with more emphasis placed on digital genres and discourses during the first decade of 2000s. In this presentation, the aim is to describe the evolution of LSP in terms of shifting communicative approaches to specialised languages. One of them is that the use of ELF (English as a Lingua Franca) has apparently consolidated for research publication and mainstream scientific dissemination. However, multilingualism has been and is still extensively used in AELFE, for example, for communicating in conferences and other social events. This presentation will describe the presentation and communication of different topics in AELFE in English and other languages. Even though the time span since AELFE’s foundation (30 years) will be reviewed, special interest is drawn to the past decade because more rapid changes have taken place due to new scenarios where the presence of digital communication, social networks, and open science has dramatically increased. It will be thus demonstrated, upon close examination of AELFE publications and events, that certain topics and issues tend to be communicated in ELF more than others. Additionally, a keyword analysis of AELFE documentation will expose the statistical relevance of key terminology in English and other languages.
References:
Aguado de Cea, G., & Curado-Fuentes, A. (2012). ESP in Spain: Goals, achievements and prospects. Asp, 62, 91-107. https://doi.org/10.4000/asp.3136
Upton, T.A. (2012). LSP at 50: Looking back, looking forward. Ibérica, 23, 9-28. Retrieved from https://revistaiberica.org/index.php/iberica/article/view/307
Alejandro Curado is a Senior Lecturer at University of Extremadura, Spain, where he teaches ESP (English for Specific Purposes) and Applied Linguistics at graduate and post-graduate levels. His research interests include IT (Information Technologies) and corpus-based analysis in ESP, leading to various publications in international journals and edited volumes. He is the current president of AELFE.
Emma Marsden
University of York
Open research in applied linguistics: Challenges and opportunities?
The term ‘Open Research’ (or ‘Open Science’ or ‘Open Scholarship’) covers multi-faceted values, infrastructures, practices, and discrete behaviours. These all coalesce under a broad philosophy of ‘openness’ that is captured by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) definition of ‘open’ as consisting of four attributes–discoverable, accessible, reusable, and transparent (Hampson et al., 2020). In its broadest sense, Open Research can infuse the whole research process, from conceptualisation through to engagement with those beyond academia.
In this talk, I first lay out some of the principal rationales that can drive Open Research. I then describe some key concerns that have been raised about the quality, scope, and reach of some applied linguistics research (such as the low quantity and quality of replication research; problems with instrument development; narrow sampling practices; and weak impact beyond academia). I then identify ways in which specific Open Research practices could help to address these concerns.
However, Open Research is not straightforward, and in the second part of the talk I will discuss some of its challenges. For example, some Open Research practices are, arguably, less necessary and pose additional difficulties for some research approaches relative to other approaches. In addition, some Open Research practices demand special effort, time, skills, infrastructures, and resources. Care is needed to avoid excluding or increasing problems for certain communities, such as early career researchers or those in deprived regions, so as to promote better social justice in the knowledge economy.
The undertaking seems enormous. The talk will conclude by suggesting some small steps that researchers can take immediately and some of the higher-level changes and metascience needed to ensure sustainable and equitable change.
Hampson, G., DeSart, M., Steinhauer, J., Gadd, E. A., Hinchliffe, L. J., Vandegrift, M., Erdmann, C., & Johnson, R. (2020, June). OSI Policy Perspective 3: Open science roadmap recommendations to UNESCO. Open Scholarship Initiative. doi 10.13021/ osi2020.2735

Marko Modiano
University of Gävle
Standards for the EU Lingua Franca: Unification in the Age of Diversity
The role English maintains as the undisputed lingua franca of the European Union has given rise to a reevaluation of the forms and functions English is to have in the new era. The need to take measures to protect Europe’s multilingual heritage, as well as the fact that English poses a threat to multiculturalism, have also emerged in the post-Brexit era as primary concerns. The formation of mainland European identity, which has the potential to threaten the ideals of ‘unity in diversity,’ because it is so intimately associated with the rise of English, has also become an urgent contention as Europe reassess its language policies in the aftermath of the UK withdrawal. It is argued that the time has come for Europe to recognize how linguistic nativization is reshaping the way English operates as a lingua franca within the EU. There is deliberation on the possibility of recognizing a second-language variety, Euro-English or Euro-Englishes, as well as on what such recognition means in terms of unification and mainland-European identity. The interdiscursive dynamics of conventional ELT contra new conceptualizations of the lingua franca are explored, where it is found that the current conditions for cross-cultural communication in the European Union require a new paradigm for the new era.
Key words: Brexit, Euro-English, European English, European Union, language policy, multiculturalism, multilingualism, nativization
Marko Modiano works in the Department of Humanities, Gävle University, Sweden, where he is head of research in the English Studies Section. He lectures in literary history and sociolinguistics. His areas of expertise are the global spread of English, the rise of English in the European Union, and language policy. He has published widely on these issues in journals such as English Today and World Englishes. Professor Modiano is currently working as the coordinator for a project which is investigating nativization process in the member states across the European Union. Marko Modiano, Department of Humanities, Gävle University.

University of Zaragoza
Lengua y discurso en géneros digitales: el caso de la comunicación pública de la ciencia
En el contexto de la Ciencia Abierta y de la agenda para la "democratización de la ciencia", la investigación en lingüística aplicada sobre lengua y comunicación en contextos sociales y culturales está ganando impulso en la actualidad, ofreciéndonos valiosas perspectivas para entender nuevas formas de comunicación digital que facilitan la comprensión de la ciencia por parte de públicos diversificados y el compromiso público de la ciencia con la sociedad. Esta charla adopta la perspectiva del análisis de los géneros para ilustrar cómo los géneros digitales para la comunicación pública de la ciencia abordan nuevas exigencias sociales. Una de ellas es la necesidad de construir credibilidad y confianza en la investigación científica. Otra exigencia importante es la necesidad de involucrar al público colaborando activamente en procesos científicos. En esta charla se tratarán cuestiones relacionadas con aspectos de lengua, discurso y género (en concreto, hibridación genérica, integración de géneros en otros géneros, intertextualidad entre géneros e interdiscursividad) para determinar cómo los géneros consiguen su funcionalidad comunicativa y retórica. Para terminar, abordaré algunas implicaciones de la comunicación multisemiótica y multilingüe a través de Internet y aportaré sugerencias para ayudar a los investigadores a desarrollar habilidades eficaces de comunicación científica digital, apoyando así su desarrollo profesional.
Carmen Pérez-Llantada is Professor of English Applied Linguistics at the University of Zaragoza. Her research interests include genre analysis, English for Academic Purposes, academic writing, academic literacy development and genre-based pedagogies. At present, she investigates science communication online from the perspectives of genre analysis. At present, she is an associate editor of English for Specific Purposes and serves in the Editorial board of the Journal of English for Academic Purposes and Journal of English for Research Publication Purposes.
Puede encontrar más información sobre Carmen Pérez-Llantada en: http://genci.unizar.es/llantada/