Sonderforschungsbereich 1287
Die Grenzen der Variabilität in der Sprache: Kognitive, komputationale und grammatische Aspekte
  1. SFB 1287
  2. Veranstaltungen
  3. Variation in Language Acquisition 6 (2025)

Variation in Language Acquisition 6 (2025)

Variation is a key property of natural languages. Variation in Language Acquisition (ViLA) is a conference series dedicated to the research question of how socially meaningful variation is acquired and learned in terms of perception, production and metalinguistic evaluation. The aim is to integrate sociolinguistic and language acquisition approaches in order to deepen the understanding of how children and learners of second or foreign languages develop their sociolinguistic competence.

We are more than happy to welcome you in Potsdam for the sixth edition of ViLA at our Collaborative Research Center 1287 „Limits of Variability in Language: Cognitive, Computational, and Grammatical Aspects“, funded by the German Research Foundation (project number 317 633 480 – SFB 1287).

When & Where

date: 18th - 19th March 2025
location: University of Potsdam, Campus Griebnitzsee, Building 6

Invited speakers

Programme

You can download the programme for the ViLA6 conference here

Submission

Please read the Call for Papers carefully and submit your proposal until the 1st of September 2024 by sending an email to vila6@uni-potsdam.de with the subject PROPOSAL_YOUR LAST NAME.

Please use our Template (max. 3000 characters) and indicate whether you prefer a talk (20 minutes + 10 minutes discussion) or a poster presentation.

Since ViLA6 is hosted by the Collaborative Research Center 1287 (Limits of variability in language), contributions addressing cognitive, social, and linguistic factors that constrain variability and delimit the range of sociolinguistic alternatives are particularly encouraged!
Registration

The conference fee will be 45€ covering the costs for all coffee breaks. Please mind that lunch and dinner are not included and have to be paid separately (be aware to bring enough Euros in cash). The opening of the account to which the registration fee is to be transferred is still being processed. We will inform you as soon as possible about further details!

Call for Papers

  • Please download our Call for Papers here.

Booklet of Conference Abstracts

  • The final version of our booklet can be download here.

Contact

Please feel free to contact our organising committee if you have any questions under: vila6@uni-potsdam.de

Organising Committee

  • Prof. Dr. Martin Pfeiffer
  • Prof. Dr. Melanie Uth
  • Patrick Auhagen
  • Aaron Schmidt-Riese

Code of Conduct

We are dedicated to providing a harassment-free summer school experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of our participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any summer school venue, including workshops, social events and poster presentations. Our participants violating these rules may be expelled from the event without a refund at the discretion of the conference organisers.

If you experience or witness inappropriate behaviour or feel like you or someone around you may need support, please reach out to the organisers in person or via email.

Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

  • verbal comments that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion
  • sexual images in public spaces
  • deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
  • harassing photography or recording
  • sustained disruption of workshops or other events
  • inappropriate physical contact
  • unwelcome sexual attention
  • advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour

Enforcement

Participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behaviour, our organisers retain the right to warn the offender or expel them from the conference with no refund. We expect participants to follow these rules at all venues and related social activities.

Reporting

If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it to the organisers as soon as possible. Organisers can be identified by their orange name tags. You can make a report by contacting the organisers directly in person, or by writing us an email. At no point will you be asked to confront anyone and your identity will not be revealed to anyone except for the team members who are in touch with you. Our team will be happy to help assist you to feel safe for the duration of the event.

  • 110 (emergency police number)
  • 112 (emergency medical number)
  • 033155080 (local police number)
  • 116117 (non-emergency medical number)
  • 0331292929 (local taxi number)

Assistance and Childcare

The venue of the summer school is barrier-free. Do you need mobility assistance on the day of the event? Please do not hesitate to contact us. There is an app available navigating you around campus with maximized accessibility: https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/multimedia/projects/accessibility/accessible-campus-navigation

Travel and Transport

For ecological reasons, we recommend coming to the event by public transport. The venue can be easily reached from both Potsdam and Berlin:

From Potsdam Central Station to S Griebnitzsee:

  • S-Bahn S7 (every 10 minutes)
  • RB 22 and RB 23 (once an hour)
  • Bus Number 694 (once an hour)

From Berlin Central Station to S Griebnitzsee:

  • S-Bahn S7 (every 10 minutes)
  • RB 23 (once an hour)
  • RE 1 to S Wannsee, S7 to S Griebnitzsee (once an hour)

Berlin, Potsdam and Brandenburg established a cooperation of their public transportation system called the Verkehrsverbund Berlin Brandenburg (VBB). Using the website of the VBB, you can find the fastest connection to all stops in the whole area of Berlin and Brandenburg.

Public Transportation in Potsdam:

Public Transportation in Berlin:

Accommodation

Participants are expected to arrange their own accommodation. Here are some recommendations:

Hostels & Hotels in Potsdam:

Hostels & Hotels Berlin:

Kontakt

Universität Potsdam
Department Linguistik
Prof. Dr. Doreen Georgi
Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 24-25
Haus 14, Raum 3.33
14476 Potsdam

(+49) 331 977-2968
doreen.georgi@uni-potsdam.de