SEALS was established in 1991 as an annual forum for students, researchers, and scholars dedicated to the linguistics of Southeast Asian languages. The conference focuses on linguistic inquiry—distinct from cultural, anthropological, or pedagogical concerns—and highlights lesser-studied languages across the region. These include members of the Austroasiatic, Austronesian, Hmong-Mien, Tibeto-Burman, and Tai-Kadai families, with particular attention given to minority and endangered languages rather than dominant national tongues.