2011 ABLA day
Applied linguistics as a bridge-builder in a globalised world
10 December 2011
Artesis University College Antwerp
Department of Translators and Interpreters
The annual ABLA day is a meeting place for (Belgian) researchers and practitioners in applied linguistics
and it provides a forum for discussion about theoretical and practical approaches to language. The ABLA
day seeks to act as a sounding board for a growing community and to support and promote research in
applied linguistics.
This year, the Department of Translators and Interpreters at Artesis University College Antwerp would
like to invite participants to build bridges at the 2011 ABLA day (ABLA2011): bridges in time, bridges that
cross language borders and country borders, bridges between research fields and institutes. At the heart
of the 2011 ABLA day are the developments and challenges in the field of applied linguistics. ABLA2011
would like to map the role of research in applied linguistics in a globalised world. Focal points are
language learning, multilingualism, specialised communication and translation and interpreting in
professional and virtual communication.
During the plenary sessions and parallel sessions, the focus will be placed on the scientific debate within
two research networks (RENs):
(1) specialised communication and terminology,
(2) foreign language acquisition.
ABLA2011 would like to extend boundaries and promote contacts between beginning and experienced
researchers at universities and colleges. Research in progress will be presented in poster sessions with a
view to establishing new common research projects and to enriching ongoing projects.
In addition, two research awards will once again be presented this year:
(1) the 2011 ABLA award for the best Belgian master’s thesis in applied linguistics,
(2) the 2011 ACCO award for the best Belgian research project in applied linguistics that
extends boundaries.
Further award-related information is available online at http://www.artesis.be/vertalertolk/ - click on
the ABLA logo in the bottom right corner.
Call for papers and posters
ABLA is looking forward to receiving papers and posters about topics in the field of applied linguistics.
The topics for the presentations (20 minutes, with 5 minutes for discussions) are preferably linked to
the topics within the RENs:

specialised communication and terminology as bridge-builders in a globalised professional
context
development of the research field of specialised language to specialised communication,
various approaches in terminology research and their cultural dimensions,
specialised communication and terminology in companies and institutes,
terminology and the new media,
specialised communication and the new media,
specialised communication and multilingualism,
specialised communication and translation/interpreting.

language acquisition and multilingualism as bases for globalised communication
foreign language acquisition: theoretical and didactic approaches,
the acquisition of multilingualism: theoretical and didactic approaches,
multilingualism and translation/interpreting,
language didactics and translation/interpreting,
language for specific purposes (professional, academic, …),
translation didactics and intercultural communication,
English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) and/or multilingualism.
The posters present research that builds bridges between boundaries: between the academic world and
the professional world, between universities and colleges, between languages and between countries.
Abstracts for presentations and posters should be sent to http://www.artesis.be/vertalertolk/ (click on
the ABLA logo in the bottom right corner) and must be received by 1 October 2011 at the latest.
The abstracts that are submitted for presentations and posters will be evaluated by the members of the
scientific board.
ABLA would like to encourage you to hold your presentation in your native language or your research
language (Dutch, French, German or English).
Possibilities for publication will be explained at the ABLA day.
Research awards
ABLA will present two research awards:


the 2011 ABLA award for the best master’s thesis in applied linguistics, defended at a Belgian
institute of higher education in 2010 or 2011,
the 2011 ACCO award for the best research project in applied linguistics (in progress or finished
in 2011 at a Belgian institute of higher education) that extends boundaries.
The author of the winning master’s thesis will receive 500 EUR and the ACCO award will consist of 250
EUR. The laureates will hold short presentations during the awards ceremony.
Evaluation
The committee that will read the submissions for the prizes will consist of: Lut Baten, Julien Perrez,
Laurent Rasier and Kris Van de Poel.
If a member of the reading committee has acted as supervisor in one or more of the submissions, he or
she will abstain from any voting related to that (those) submission(s). The members of the reading
committee may ask external experts to participate in the evaluation process. The committee report will
be published on the ABLA website.
Procedure
Anyone interested in submitting a master’s thesis or a research project is asked to send their proposals
in Dutch, French, German or English electronically (PDF) to http://www.artesis.be/vertalertolk/ - click on
the ABLA logo in the bottom right corner.
The proposal for the 2011 ABLA award (master’s thesis) must be submitted online before 1 October
2011 and must consist of:
1. the master’s thesis in PDF format (without the author’s name),
2. a 200-word summary of the master’s thesis for online publication,
3. a separate document with personal data about the author.
The proposal for the 2011 ACCO award (poster) must be submitted before 15 November 2011 and must
consist of:
1. a PDF version of the poster (without the author’s name),
2. a separate document with personal data the author(s).
Deadlines
Abstract for presentation: 1 October 2011
Abstract for poster: 1 October 2011
Complete file for 2011 ABLA award: 1 October 2011
Complete file for 2011 ACCO award: 15 November 2011
Notification of acceptance for presentation or poster: 1 November 2011
Deadline for payment and registration: 15 November 2011
For additional information you can contact ABLA2011@artesis.be
Registration
Registration will take place online at http://www.artesis.be/vertalertolk/ - click on the ABLA logo in the
bottom right corner.
Conference registration fees: € 35 (members) - € 65 (non-members) - € 20 (students1). These fees can be
transferred to Artesis University College Antwerp – Department of Translators and Interpreters, account
number: IBAN BE55 0016 1571 4044 - BIC GEBABEBB with the reference VABLA11. Payment in cash on
the day of the conference is also an option.
Organising board
Géraldine De Visscher (Artesis University College Antwerp)
Maarten Franck (Artesis University College Antwerp)
Katrien Lievois (Artesis University College Antwerp)
Jimmy Ureel (Artesis University College Antwerp)
Kris Van de Poel (University of Antwerp)
Leona Van Vaerenbergh (Artesis University College Antwerp)
Scientific board
June Eyckmans (Erasmus University College Brussels – Université Libre de Bruxelles)
Alex Housen (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Sonja Janssens (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Katrien Lievois (Artesis University College Antwerp)
Marie-Pierre Mayar (Institut Libre Marie Haps - Leonard de Vinci College)
Rita Temmerman (Erasmus University College Brussels)
Jimmy Ureel (Artesis University College Antwerp)
Cornelia Wermuth (Lessius University College Antwerp)
Evaluation committee for the prizes
Lut Baten (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven)
Julien Perrez (Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis – Université Catholique de Louvain)
Laurent Rasier (Université Catholique de Louvain)
Kris Van de Poel (University of Antwerp)
1
Full-time regular students will be asked to show their student cards when registering.
Programme 2011 ABLA day (10 December 2011)
9:00am
9:30am
9:45am
Registration and coffee (hang up posters)
Opening by ABLA chair and conference chair
Plenary session 1
Albert Weideman (Universiteit van die Vrystaat - South Africa)
Applied Linguistics beyond postmodernism
10:30am Poster presentations
11:00am Coffee and light refreshments
11:15am Parallel sessions (3 presentations, 20 minutes per presentation)
12:45pm Lunch (until 1:45pm)
1:00pm General members’ meeting (during lunch)
1:45pm Parallel sessions (3 presentations, 20 minutes per presentation)
3:15pm Poster presentations
3:45pm Coffee and light refreshments
4:00pm Plenary session 2
Jan D. ten Thije (University of Utrecht - Institute of Linguistics)
'Specialised communication' in lingua receptiva
16:45
Research awards ceremony followed by reception