Welcome address by Martin Bygate, president of AILA
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China.org.cn, August 24, 2011
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| Martin Bygate, president of International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA), addresses the 16th World Congress of Applied Linguistics (AILA2011) in Beijing, Aug. 24, 2011. |
On behalf of the AILA Executive Board and the IACC, it is a privilege to welcome all participants to the 16th World Congress of Applied Linguistics in Beijing. AILA is the premier world association for the development of applied linguistics, and to be able to participate in the first AILA Congress in China is a moment to savour.
Congratulations to CELEA, our host affiliate, on all the work they have undertaken to ensure that this conference is a success. Planning for an AILA World Congress begins eight or more years before it actually takes place, and through that time, the hosts have imagined, thought, planned, communicated and acted to lay the foundations for a unique event. So I want to express the deepest thanks on behalf of AILA to our Chinese colleagues for taking on this venture with such energy and enthusiasm. Heartfelt thanks also to all those who have contributed to preparing the programme - the painstaking strand coordinators, their 200 reviewers, and my dedicated colleagues in the programme team: the International Academic Congress Committee – Professors Wen Qiufang, Anne Burns, Daniel Perrin and Bernd Rueschoff, IACC assistants Virginia Samuda, for her painstaking work over the past 24 months, and Thomas Gantenbein for his invaluable help in formatting the program. It is also a pleasure to acknowledge the sponsorship of Peter Lang publishers. Finally it would be a serious error to forget to mention the substantial endowment Multilingual Matters have made to AILA's Solidarity Fund, for which AILA will be deeply grateful for many, many years to come.
Applied Linguistics is the theoretical and empirical study of real world problems in which language has a central role. This implies many areas of study, and the importance of international collaboration. It encompasses issues of multilingualism, language survival and spread; languages for and through education; language and health, ageing and disability; language across borders, cultures and communities; language in the contexts of migration and the movement of peoples, within public debate and dialogue, and in communication between organisations, professions and communities of practice. It extends to the uses of language in the media and in new and emerging technologies, to issues in interpreting and translation, and to the uses of language in cultural domains, such as museums, art and sculpture, music and opera, as well as cinema and theatre. By definition applied linguistics is truly worldwide and inclusive.
Even in today's world of virtual communication, face-to-face dialogue is indispensible. For this reason, AILA is committed to promoting communication in between our triennial Congresses, whether through its emerging policy of regionalisation, its support for active Research Networks, or the promotion of workshops and student conferences. AILA itself is considering how best to engage with the economic and technological realities of the 21st century so as to keep pace with the opportunities and aspirations of its members, and to reach out to new communities.
Yet above all it is our triennial World Congress which offers us our best chance to build ideas, projects and communities within the field. With this in mind, may the 16th International AILA Congress in Beijing thrive! And may everyone enjoy a challenging, stimulating, rewarding and above all collegial conference!
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