IAFOR > The Asian Conference on Language (ACL) > ACL2021 > Programme (Online)

Programme (Online)

Speakers at The Asian Conference on Language (ACL2021) will provide a variety of perspectives from different academic and professional backgrounds. This page provides details of featured presentations, the conference schedule and other programming. For more information about presenters, please visit the Speakers page.

Conference Outline

Thursday, March 25, 2021Friday, March 26, 2021

10:00-10:10 Announcements, Recognition of IAFOR Scholarship Winners, & Welcome Address
Joseph Haldane, IAFOR, Japan

10:10-10:55 Keynote Presentation
The New Peace Linguistics – Because Nice Is Not Enough
Andy Curtis, University of Anaheim, United States

10:55-11:05 Break

11:05-12:05 Panel Presentation
A Language for Humanity
Dexter Da Silva, Keisen University, Japan
Andy Curtis, University of Anaheim, United States
Stuart Rees, University of Sydney & Sydney Peace Foundation, Australia

13:15-13:30 Live-Stream Session 1: Language Learning and Teaching

13:30-13:40 Break

13:40-14:55 Live-Stream Session 2: Language Technology / Linguistics

14:55-15:05 Break

15:05-15:55 Live-Stream Session 3: Language Learning and Teaching

15:55-16:05 Break

16:05-17:05 Discussion and Networking
This Discussion and Networking session is hosted by the conference organising committee to bring together participants who are interested in creating new ties and discussing each other's research with fellow educators & researchers. All attendees are invited to attend this open session.

11:00-12:15 Live-Stream Session 1: Language Acquisition

12:15-12:25 Break

12:25-14:05 Live-Stream Session 2: Language and Culture

14:05-14:15 Break

14:15-15:05 Live-Stream Session 3: Language and Communication

15:05-15:15 Break

15:15-16:05 Live-Stream Session 4: Language Acquisition

16:05-16:15 Break

16:15-17:15: Panel Presentation
Life and Language
Gloria Montero, Novelist, Playwright & Poet, Spain
Svetlana Ter-Minasova, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia

17:15-17:25 Conference Closing Address
Joseph Haldane, IAFOR, Japan

*Please be aware that the above schedule may be subject to change.

Final Programme

The online version of the Conference Programme is now available to view below via the Issuu viewing platform. Alternatively, download a PDF version. The Conference Programme can also be viewed on the Issuu website (requires a web browser). An Issuu app is available for Android users.

Click to download as a PDF

The Conference Programme contains access information, session information and a detailed day-to-day presentation schedule.

Important Information Emails

All registered attendees will receive an Important Information email and updates in the run-up to the conference. Please check your email inbox for something from "iafor.org". If you can not find these emails in your normal inbox, it is worth checking in your spam or junk mail folders as many programs filter out emails this way. If these did end up in one of these folders, please add the address to your acceptable senders' folder by whatever method your email program can do this.

Virtual Presentations

Watch Virtual Presentations

Featured Presentations

  • The New Peace Linguistics – Because Nice Is Not Enough
    The New Peace Linguistics – Because Nice Is Not Enough
    Keynote Presentation: Andy Curtis
  • Life and Language
    Life and Language
    Panel Presentation: Gloria Montero, Svetlana Ter-Minasova
  • A Language for Humanity
    A Language for Humanity
    Panel Presentation: Dexter Da Silva, Andy Curtis & Stuart Rees

Previous Programming

View details of programming for past ACL conferences via the links below.

ACL2020
The New Peace Linguistics – Because Nice Is Not Enough
Keynote Presentation: Andy Curtis

As the IAFOR Asian Conference on Language 2021 webpage says, clearly, concisely and poignantly: “In its written and spoken forms language dominates and shapes our lives … Language brings us our first and dying words, and accompanies our journeys, helping us to formulate concepts, sentences, and lives, and helps us negotiate meanings, ideas, and each other.” Knowledge is Power, Language is Powerful, and Politics is Power. Therefore, Language is Political, and as such, like all (hu)man-made tools, language can be used by those in power for constructive or destructive purposes. That is the focus of the New Peace Linguistics.

The concept of Peace Linguistics has been around for decades. However, for much of its history, its proponents focused on giving advice – often to English language students and teachers, who already have more-than-enough on their plate. That advice was about using language consciously and carefully, in ways that avoid causing any offence, and instead using language that is respectful, honouring and dignifying – what might be called ‘talking good’ or “talking nice”. Although that still is sound and solid advice, unfortunately, nice is not enough. It should be, but it’s not. Therefore, since 2017, the focus has shifted to a New Peace Linguistics, which is based on systematic, in-depth analyses of the texts (written and spoken) of some of the most powerful people in the world – as it is they, much more so than any of us, who have the power to start wars or to make peace, depending on the language they choose to use.

Read presenter biographies
Life and Language
Panel Presentation: Gloria Montero, Svetlana Ter-Minasova

In this conversation, writer and filmmaker Gloria Montero, speaks to linguist and writer Svetlana Ter-Minasova, around the role of language and languages in their lives.

They will discuss how the highs and lows of their lives have been shaped through language, and through its study and manipulation. For them both, language has been their sword and shield, and something which has represented power in both positive and negative forms, both enriching and endangering lives.

In this conversation, they will exchange anecdotes and compare notes on their own respective journeys with language.

Read presenter biographies
A Language for Humanity
Panel Presentation: Dexter Da Silva, Andy Curtis & Stuart Rees

Without a language to consider ways to build socially just post COVID-19 societies, there would be few ways to communicate across countries and cultures. This indispensable language speaks of non violence, an end to cruelties to people, animals and planet earth. It emphasises respect for universal human rights and for humane governance. Such governance requires a redefinition of politics in every context, the home, work place, communities as well as national policy making and international relations. This ‘politics’ stresses non destructive, life enhancing ways to conduct personal relations, and to craft policies to achieve equalities, locally, nationally and around the globe. Paying attention to the plight of powerless peoples such as refugees and brutalised women and children is a priority. To speak this language, to contribute to socially just futures requires citizens from all walks of life to seek inspiration from any source, such as from music, poetry, art, sport, friendship, hospitality and diverse other experiences or share and value.

Read presenter biographies
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