37.887, Confs: International Workshop on Register Variation in Spontaneous Speech (Germany)

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-37-887. Wed Mar 04 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.887, Confs: International Workshop on Register Variation in Spontaneous Speech (Germany)

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Date: 02-Mar-2026
From: Samantha Weller [samantha.weller at hu-berlin.de]
Subject: International Workshop on Register Variation in Spontaneous Speech


International Workshop on Register Variation in Spontaneous Speech

Date: 08-Oct-2026 - 09-Oct-2026
Location: Berlin, Germany
Contact Email: spospe26-sfb1412 at lists.hu-berlin.de
Meeting URL:
https://sfb1412.hu-berlin.de/event/call-for-papers-international-workshop-register-variation-in-spontaneous-speech-october-08-09-2026-berlin/

Linguistic Field(s): Language Acquisition; Phonetics;
Psycholinguistics; Sociolinguistics; Text/Corpus Linguistics

Submission Deadline: 01-May-2026

This international workshop explores the dynamic nature of register
variation in spontaneous speech, and examines how situational
contexts, cognitive processes, and developmental pathways shape our
adaptive language use. To advance a comprehensive understanding, we
invite contributions from diverse theoretical frameworks and
linguistic sub-disciplines.
To increase communicative efficiency, speakers adapt their speech to
different audiences and circumstances according to socio-culturally
recognisable and agreed-upon norms of social behaviour – producing
distinct speech registers. Drawing on the conception of linguistic
register as “those aspects of socially recurring intraindividual
variation in linguistic behaviour that are influenced by situational
and functional settings” (Lüdeling et al., 2024), this workshop seeks
to deepen our understanding of variation in spontaneous spoken
registers, in both first (L1) and additional languages (L2/Ln).
Register variation permeates all levels of language production,
including phonetic, morphological, lexical, syntactic, and
discourse-organisational adaptations to the situational-functional
properties of communication.  Extra-linguistic contexts are understood
as configurations of parameters pertaining to physical circumstances
(e.g., location, occasion, time) and interlocutor relationships, e.g.
based on assessments of socially relevant characteristics such as age,
gender, social role, and status (Biber et al., 2021). We welcome
contributions addressing situational-functional parameters that
influence linguistic realisations, such as Bell’s Audience Design
(1984), Lindblom’s H&H Theory (1990), SFL models (Halliday & Hasan,
1976), or multidimensional models (Biber, 2009).
Furthermore, register production is continually modulated by cognitive
and affective factors such as memory, attention, motivation, or
language anxiety. These factors should therefore be accounted for in
analyses of spoken register variation and in models of register
acquisition and use, where the distinct profiles of L2 learners and
multilingual speakers present a critical area of inquiry.
A central issue is the development of register flexibility which is
closely linked to an individual’s socialization and to the acquisition
of further languages. The interplay between specialised linguistic
resource accumulation and increasing metalinguistic awareness
represents a key concern in register acquisition studies (Ravid &
Tolchinsky, 2002; Berman, 2018). Consequently, the relationship – and
potential tension – between the development of spoken and written
academic registers in educational settings provides a rich field for
investigating register acquisition from multiple theoretical
perspectives.
We particularly encourage submissions on, but not limited to, the
following topics:
- Empirical studies of situational parameter effects on spontaneous
speech
- Modelling cognitive and affective influences on online register
production
- The development of spoken register flexibility across the lifespan
- Register variation in different spoken academic and specialised
contexts (schools, universities…)
- Acquisition of academic and professional spoken registers
- Methodological innovations for analysing spontaneous register
variation
- Integrating theoretical perspectives (sociolinguistic,
corpus-linguistic, systemic-functional, psycholinguistic)
- Speaking style/spoken register variation in first, second, and
foreign languages
- The interaction of register and (morpho-)phonetic parameters in
spontaneous speech
- Effects of spacial characteristics on speech
The workshop will feature keynote lectures, themed paper sessions, and
poster panels.
Confirmed keynote speakers: Alfred Lameli (Marburg) and Christine
Dimroth (Münster)
Key Dates:
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: June 1, 2026
- Workshop Dates: October 8-9, 2026
Workshop Venue: Leibniz-Zentrum Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft (ZAS),
Pariser Str. 1, 10719, Berlin, Germany
Organisers: Milena Kühnast (HU Berlin), Miriam Oschkinat (ZAS Berlin),
Nicole Schumacher (HU), Theres Weißgerber (HU), Samantha Weller (HU),
Malte Belz (HU), Melissa Ebert (HU), Stephanie Jannedy (ZAS), Anke
Lüdeling (HU), Beate Lütke (HU), Christine Mooshammer (HU), and
Melanie Weirich (FSU Jena).
Unfortunately, we cannot offer travel bursaries. Attending the
conference itself is free of charge.
Submission Guidelines and Types:
We invite abstracts up to 500 words (excl. bibliography and figures).
Abstracts must be submitted as a single PDF file and should follow APA
style (7th edition) for in-text citations and the reference list.
Please send your submission to spospe26-sfb1412 at lists.hu-berlin.de by
May 1, 2026. Abstracts must be anonymised for peer review.
The workshop offers the following presentation formats:
1) Talk: 20-minute oral presentation, followed by a 10-minute
discussion;
2) Poster presentation: poster accompanied by a short introductory
pitch.
Please indicate your preferred presentation format: talk, poster, or
no preference. While we will endeavour to honour indicated
preferences, the final decision on presentation format (talk/poster)
rests with the workshop organisers based on programme constraints.
Contact Information:
For any inquiries, please contact the workshop organisers at
spospe26-sfb1412 at lists.hu-berlin.de.



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