January is the perfect time for reflection—looking back on achievements, lessons learned, and setting plans for the year ahead. For Emerging Linguists, 2024 was an incredible year of growth and milestones. As we marked our second year of creating opportunities for young linguists in Austria, we achieved so much and are eager for what lies ahead!
First General Assembly
In February 2024, we held our first general assembly, bringing members together to discuss the future of Emerging Linguists. We welcomed new board member David Košić as our secretary, updated our statutes, and brainstormed ideas for the year ahead. Curious about the details? Check out the full report https://emerginglinguists.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/General_Assembly_2024.pdf
Lange Nacht der Forschung (LNDF)
On May 24, 2024, we joined the Lange Nacht der Forschung (Long Night of Research) alongside colleagues from the Institute for Linguistics. Our stand, located at the entrance of the main university building, invited visitors to explore the question, “What does linguistics do?” With four poster presentations, interactive activities, and a team of ten, we introduced linguistics to a broad audience. We even prepared language games for kids, along with gifts, books, and hands-on demonstrations to spark curiosity and engagement.
The First spraWIEN Conference
The highlight of 2024 was organizing the first-ever spraWIEN conference —a one-day event for young linguists to share their knowledge and connect. Held on June 15 at the University of Vienna’s Institute for Linguistics, the event featured 22 speakers delivering 18 engaging presentations.
Our team worked tirelessly to make spraWIEN a success, and we’re already gearing up for the next edition coming this June. Stay updated so you don’t miss a thing—visit sprawien.at.
UR:journal Collaboration
We also embarked on an exciting partnership with UR:journal, kicking off work on our first publication. This initiative allows young linguists to experience the entire process of academic publishing—from writing, and drafting to editing and, finally, seeing their work in print.
48. ÖLT Workshop
Emerging Linguists once again participated in the 48th Österreichische Linguistiktagung (Austrian Linguistics Conference), held in Innsbruck this past December. Together with verbal, we hosted a workshop titled “Rückblicke und Ausblicke auf die Angewandte Linguistik in Österreich” (Reflections and Perspectives on Applied Linguistics in Austria) to mark verbal’s 30th anniversary.
The workshop focused on fostering collaboration between linguists at different stages of their careers, offering space for emerging scholars to showcase their work. It was a hub of inspiration, generating a “castle in the air” full of ideas and impulses for future partnerships. We also published a short report titled “Zwischen einem Luftschloss und Worten: Die 48. Österreichische Linguistiktagung” (Between a Castle in the Air and Words: The 48th Austrian Linguistics Conference).
Final words
2024 was a year of connection, innovation, and growth. As we look ahead, we’re excited to build on this momentum and continue creating spaces where emerging linguists can thrive. Thank you for being part of our journey—let’s make 2025 even better!