The 26th J-SLA (J-SLA2026)」

Plenary Lecture：Jennifer Culbertson (University of Edinburgh)

Title: New connections between language evolution and SLA

Abstract: Artificial language learning paradigms have long been a core tool for understanding how both adults and children learn language. More recently, researchers in language evolution have co-opted these paradigms to test hypotheses about the links between learning, language use, and linguistic typology (e.g., language universals). These links have been the subject research in SLA for many years (e.g., Rutherford 1984, Carlisle 2001, White 2003, a.o.), yet connections between this new empirical approach to universals and SLA research is scant. In this talk, I survey recent findings using artificial language learning experiments to investigate universals in syntax and morphology. In each case, I highlight how SLA research may enrich these findings and make new predictions about how adult and child learning might drive population-level typological trends.

Bio: Professor Jennifer Culbertson received her PhD in Cognitive Science from Johns Hopkins University in 2010, and was awarded the Robert J. Glusko Prize for Outstanding Dissertation in Cognitive Science in 2012. She is a founding member of the Centre for Language Evolution at the University of Edinburgh, where she is currently Professor of Experimental Linguistics.

Plenary Lecture：Jennifer Culbertson (University of Edinburgh)

Call For Papers： How to apply to present your research at J-SLA 2026

1. Presentation format

2. Presentation time

3. Eligibility for abstract submission and presentation

4. How to apply

5. Deadline

6. Content of research presentations

7. How to prepare Review Abstract and Programme Abstract

8. Email confirmation of receipt

9. Reviewing method

10. Announcement of review results

Important Notice Regarding Accommodation

Call For Papers： How to apply to present your research at J-SLA 2026

Submissions can be oral presentations, poster presentations, student oral presentations, and symposia. Oral presentations, student presentations, and symposia may be held in parallel sessions.

If you wish to present your research, please follow the guidance in 1-10 below.

1. Presentation format

There are four formats for research presentations at J-SLA 2026

(1) Oral presentation

(2) Poster presentation

(3) Student oral presentation

(4) Symposium

Note 1) All presentations must be delivered in person at the conference venue, Mie University. Substitute presentations are not permitted. The presentation must be given by the researcher(s) themselves.

Note 2) For Student Oral Presentations, specialists in the relevant field will attend and provide questions and feedback. Presentations may report research that is currently in progress. If you are a student member applying for an oral presentation, please choose either a Student Oral Presentation or a regular Oral Presentation.

Note 3) Submissions must be original and must not have been previously presented or published elsewhere.

Note 4) For oral presentations, each individual may submit only one proposal as first author. However, this does not preclude simultaneous submission to a poster presentation or a student oral presentation (student members only). In such cases, the content of each presentation must be different.

Note 5) Regular members, including co-presenters, are not eligible to apply for Student Oral Presentations.

2. Presentation time

The time allocated for research presentations is as follows:

Oral Presentation: 20-minute presentation + 10-minute Q&A
Poster Presentation: 90 minutes (tentative)
Student Oral Presentation: 20-minute presentation + 10-minute Q&A (open to student members only)
Symposium: 90 minutes (including presentations and discussion by 3–4 proposers)

3. Eligibility for abstract submission and presentation

Abstract submission is open to both members and non-members.
If an abstract is accepted, the presenter (or, in the case of multiple presenters, the first-listed presenter) must complete J-SLA membership registration, either as a regular member or a student member, and pay the membership fee no later than June 21, 2026 (membership registration is available here). Failure to complete both registration and payment by the deadline will result in the presentation being ineligible.
Among co-presenters, only those who do not attend the conference are exempt from the membership requirement. All conference participants, without exception, must register as J-SLA members and pay the applicable membership fee.

4. How to apply

From 1st February 2026, please log in to the 'Application for Presentation' site and upload Review Abstract (for peer review) and Programme Abstract (for inclusion in the conference programme). See 7. below for further details.

Japanese　https://forms.gle/aEw7NN9g6M3AuZ1r8

English　　https://forms.gle/RQYnr5uf3peMdzD16

(Note) Some university networks may restrict access to Google Forms. If this occurs, please log in using a personal Google account from outside your university network.

5. Deadline

The abstract deadline is Tuesday 31st March 7th April 2026, 23:59 (JST).

*The deadline for the J-SLA 2026 abstract submission has been extended.

Please note that abstracts submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

6. Content of research presentations

J-SLA 2026 is calling for research presentations on "theoretical and empirical research on second language acquisition" in line with the "aims of the founding of the Japan Second Language Association".

(Note) Please refer to the following 'Inaugural aims of the society'.

“We hereby establish the Japan Second Language Association (abbreviated: J-SLA) for the express purpose of promoting within Japan the advancement of research into second language development that seeks to elucidate the process of second language acquisition through theoretically grounded analyses of empirical data.

Our approach sees second language acquisition research as a scientific field of study on par with cognitive science, first language acquisition research, and linguistics, one that does not, therefore, depend on whether the findings have a direct application to foreign language education per se. Ascertaining the mechanisms of second language acquisition through a rigorous scientific method will contribute, along with other areas of cognitive science, to our understanding of human cognition.”
(an excerpt from the J-SLA website at https://www.j-sla.org/about)

7. How to prepare Review Abstract and Programme Abstract

Abstracts should be prepared in accordance with the following instructions. Please note that the abstracts which do not follow the guidance in (1) to (9) below may not be accepted.

Review Abstract

(1) Language: Please write in English or Japanese. (the same as your presentation language)

(2) Means of writing: Please use BOTH Word and PDF.

(3) Font: Please write in Times New Roman 10.5 pt for English and MS Mincho (or Yumincho) 10.5 pt for Japanese.

(4) Volume: The English abstract should be no more than 1,000 words, and the Japanese abstract should be no more than 1,600 characters.

(Note 1) You may add figures and tables, but the final abstract should fit into two A4 pages.

(Note 2) Titles, figures, tables, and references are not to be included in the word or character count. However, for symposia, titles shall be counted towards the word or character count if they include the title of each individual presentation.

(5) Margins: 3 cm both top, bottom, left and right.

(6) Title: The title should be written in the 'top centre' of the text of the abstract. The Japanese and English titles should be as follows:

Japanese titles: Use dashes (—) to set off subtitles

Example: 日本人英語学習者による英語冠詞の習得―使用傾向と誤用パターン―

English titles: Use a colon (:) before subtitles and follow APA title case conventions

Example: The Acquisition of English Articles by Japanese Learners: Usage Tendencies and Error Patterns

(7) Anonymisation: Do not include author names or affiliations. When citing your own previous work, refer to it normally (e.g. “Yamada (2006)”), and use the third person rather than the first (e.g. “Yamada (2006) found…” rather than “I found…”).

(8) Please erase all personal information such as author names from the file properties in both Word and PDF files. This is to ensure the review process is carried out anonymously.

(9) Word/Character count: Please write the number of words or characters at the end of the abstract.

Programme Abstract

The abstract for the conference programme must be prepared using the designated file format.

Please download the template from here and use it to create your abstract.

8. Email confirmation of receipt

Once your abstract submission is complete, a copy of your abstract will be automatically sent to the email address you provided in the form. If you do not receive the copy, please check your spam or junk mail folder. If it is still missing, please contact the head of the reviewing board, Mari Miyao (jsla2026abstract★j-sla.org). Please replace “★” with “@” when emailing.

9. Reviewing method

Abstracts will be assessed by the reviewers using the following five main points.

A. Importance of the Research: Does the research contribute to the academic development of second language acquisition research?
B. Clarity: Is the theory, data, discussion, and conclusions of the research clearly presented? Including all these elements for work-in-progress student oral presentations is not required if not available.
C. Structure: Is the research appropriately structured?
D. Overall Evaluation: Overall assessment of persuasiveness, clarity, and organization.
E. Aims of J-SLA: Is the research content in line with the aims of J-SLA?

(Note) Please note that abstracts that do not conform to the aims of J-SLA may not be accepted.

10. Announcement of review results

The results of the review will be emailed by 23:59 on Friday, 15th May 2026 (JST). Accepted presenters will be asked to confirm their intention to present by the deadline stated in the acceptance email.

<Other inquiries about J-SLA 2026>

Secretariat: Tae Yamazaki (office★j-sla.org) Replace "★" with "@".

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11th November 2025

Steering Committee of J-SLA

Important Notice Regarding Accommodation

Please note that J-SLA 2026 (July 4–5, 2026) coincides with the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race at Suzuka Circuit.
As a result, hotels in and around Tsu City are expected to be fully booked or extremely limited.

Participants are strongly advised to book their accommodation as early as possible.

The nearest station to the venue, Mie University, is Edobashi Station.
You may also consider staying in nearby cities:

Matsusaka Station: approximately 25 minutes to Edobashi Station
Iseshi Station: approximately 40 minutes to Edobashi Station
Nagoya Station: approximately 60 minutes to Edobashi Station
The last train runs until after 11:00 p.m.
If you take a late-night train, a transfer at Isenakagawa Station is required, which may slightly increase travel time.

We have secured accommodations at Takada Kaikan (https://www.takada-k.net/) for the duration of J-SLA 2026. It can accommodate up to 46 guests.

Please refer to the details here and complete your reservation accordingly.

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