Conferencing

The traditional way of conferencing, not just in linguistics but also in other sciences, is not sustainable. Here we will discuss some of the problems and give possible solutions.

Observations in querying confenrences

https://linguistlist.org/conf/search/?query=)

1. querying "online"
   

   a screenshot from Linguistic List
   

   a screenshot from Linguist List

Querying "online" produces 6 pages' results intotal, about 54 online meetings were held or will be held in 2022 and 2023. With a total 58 pages of meatings, this means only 10% of meetings open online options.

Few meetings marked out the word "online" in the meeting title. Most of them put the word "online" with the adress. The picture below shows us that online meeting is added as an option for participants to choose.

2. querying "hybrid"

Querying "hybrid" produces 21 meetings, half of them focusing on applied linguistics as shown in the right page.

3. Filtering with different subfield

Filtering different linguistic subfields, applied linguistics is the most heatedly discussed field with 15 pages of results, compared with anthropological linguistics (4 pages), cognitive science (4 pages), discourse analysis(8 pages), etc. Linguistic conferences put emphasis on how to put linguistic knowledge into practical use.

4. Filtering with different language

Filtering "English" produces an astounding 29 pages results. The total amount of meatings in this website is 58 pages. Thereby, this observation means that half of the conferences are focusing on English.

Suggestions based on sustainability

1. society

• prove the efficiency and praticality of conferences
• equal opportunities for participants
• balance the conferences in different linguistic subfields and subject languages

2. economics

• online meeting as an option
• prove the quality of meetings, cancel unecessary ones

3. environment

• online meetings to reduce carbon footprints
• suggesting participants to be better consumers