Experiments in Linguistic Meaning 2

We are excited to announce the second Experiments in Linguistic Meaning (ELM) conference to be hosted by the University of Pennsylvania on May 18-20, 2022. The conference is dedicated to the experimental study of linguistic meaning broadly construed, with a focus on theoretical issues in semantics and pragmatics, their interplay with other components of the grammar, their relation to language processing and acquisition, as well as their connections to human cognition and computation. We aim to include representation of linguistic, psychological, logical, philosophical, social, developmental, computational, as well as cross-linguistic and cross-cultural perspectives.

Invited speakers:

Chris Kennedy, University of Chicago

Barbara Landau, Johns Hopkins University

Petra Schumacher, University of Cologne

Invited Symposium on Computational Approaches to the Study of Meaning:

Marie-Catherine de Marneffe, The Ohio State University

Ellie Pavlick, Brown University

Aaron Steven White, University of Rochester

The experimental study of meaning in language draws on a broad spectrum of disciplines, topics, and methodologies, and ELM reflects this diversity in its scope. The biennial ELM conference aims to foster the interdisciplinary study of meaning, and to create a community of scholars that might not otherwise meet and interact with each other with regularity. We encourage researchers from around the world to submit their recent work to ELM2, and to attend in order to discuss the latest theories and data in the cognitive science of meaning broadly construed.

The University of Pennsylvania is home to a vibrant interdisciplinary community that studies language and meaning across several departments. ELM acknowledges support from Penn’s Integrated Language Sciences and Technology(ILST) Initiative; mindCORE, Penn’s hub for the integrative study of the mind; and Penn’s Department of Linguistics.

Format: In light of continued uncertainties about international in-person conferences due to COVID, we leave the precise format open at this point. While we sincerely hope to hold the conference in person, we plan to be flexible in terms of accommodating remote presentations where needed, so submissions do not require commitment to in-person attendance. (We will ask for preferences in different scenarios for planning purposes, but this will not be a consideration in acceptance decisions.)

Abstract Submissions via Easy Chair, due December 15, 2021 (11:59pm EST)

The conference will feature both 20-minute talks and poster presentations, and abstracts will be considered for both unless only one category is specified at time of submission. Abstracts must be anonymous and written in English. They should use US Letter size paper and 1 inch margins on all four sides. Abstracts must be single-spaced, and written using Arial 11pt font. Abstracts should be at most 2 pages, including the main text of the abstract, figures, and any supplementary materials and references the authors wish to include. Authors should avoid identifying information in the abstract, especially when referring to their own prior work. The abstract must be submitted as a single PDF file and must include a title at the top. Abstracts violating these requirements may be rejected without further consideration. 

Timeline:

November 15, 2021:   ELM abstract submissions opens on Easy Chair (https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=elm2)

December 15, 2021:   Abstract submission deadline

Feb 15, 2022:              Notifications

April 1, 2022:               Early registration opens

*By coincidence, two conferences with the acronym ELM were conceived of at the same time. If you're looking for our friends at the other ELM, click here: Expression, Language, Music (ELM 2022)