Linguistics convention enhances exchanges
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail
China.org.cn, August 24, 2011
|
|
| The 16th World Congress of Applied Linguistics (AILA2011), reputed as "the Olympics in the field of applied linguistics," opens at the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) Aug. 24, 2011. |
The 16th World Congress of Applied Linguistics (AILA2011), the largest gathering in the field of applied linguistics, opened Wednesday at the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).
It was the first time that World Congress of Applied Linguistics was held in China. The convention was organized by the International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA) and co-hosted by China English Language Education Association (CELEA), BFSU, National Research Center for Foreign Language Education and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
More than 1,500 experts, teachers and researchers attend the event, where some 1,000 scholars will present their theses.
Focusing on the theme of "Harmony in diversity: language, culture, society," scholars will hold extensive and in-depth discussions during various workshops and presentations.
Vice Education Minister Liu Limin, BFSU president Chen Yulu, AILA president Martin Bygate and CELEA president Wen Qiufang attended the opening ceremony of the congress and delivered speeches.
Liu said that language, as an important medium to learning, understanding, and changing the world, plays an irreplaceable role in social life and international exchanges.
The Chinese government hopes to set up a platform that boosts the research and development of the world's applied linguistics and strengthens language and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries, Liu said.
Chinese scholars and their international counterparts could use this platform to enhance exchanges, understanding and cooperation in the field of applied linguistics, Liu said. The platform could also assist the sharing of achievements in scientific researches and the search for common plans of development.
The AILA congress is held every three years. The first congress took place in Nancy, France. Previous congresses not only featured discussions reflecting popular research topics at the times, but the events also recorded the history of the applied linguistics studies over the past 40 years.
The congress will help to enhance academic exchanges between Chinese applied linguists and their foreign counterparts and to improve China's research in applied linguistics and foreign language education. Focusing on social life, the congress will enable world's applied linguists to learn more about China's development in the field and help to improve China's global influence and status in the study of applied linguistics.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)