2025 ACAL Theme

The theme of ACAL 56 is “African Languages in Diaspora." 

The 2025 host state, Minnesota, is the state with the highest percentage of its population born in East Africa (and the second-highest percentage of its population born in Africa), meaning it has a high proportion of both first-language speakers of African languages and heritage speakers. The conference theme celebrates this fact and provides a structured platform for conference talks that address any aspect of linguistic research concerning the African diaspora, including description or analysis of diaspora language varieties, conducting linguistic research in diaspora communities, conducting research as an African linguist living in diaspora, or any other topic that fits under this broad theme.

With this theme, we also seek to bring linguists into conversation with local speech communities from the African diaspora. Conference activities will include a panel of community language workers reflecting on their efforts to support African languages in diaspora; a plenary talk; and a poster session that brings together refereed posters and posters highlighting community language efforts.