Conference Details

The Evolang conference series provides the major meeting for researchers worldwide in the origins and evolution of language. The Evolang conferences are interdisciplinary, with contributions from disciplines including, but not limited to: anthropology, archeology, artificial life, biology, cognitive science, genetics, linguistics, modeling, paleontology, physiology, primatology, and psychology. Typically, about 300 delegates attend, with representatives from all these disciplines.

Normal standards of academic excellence apply. Submitted papers should aim to make clear their own substantive claim, relating this to relevant scientific literature, and briefly setting out the method by which the claim is substantiated, the nature of the relevant data, and/or the core of the theoretical argument concerned. Submissions may be theory-based, but empirical studies should not rest on preliminary results. All submissions are refereed by at least three relevant referees, and acceptance is based on a scoring scheme pooling the reports of the referees. In recent conferences, the acceptance rate has been about 50%. The conference showcases both oral presentations and poster presentations.

next conference

Evolang XV will take place in Madison, WI USA in late Spring, 2024 with Gary Lupyan as the chief local organizer.

Dates: Late Spring, 2024 (exact dates TBA)
Venue: Madison, WI, USA
Details: TBA
Workshop proposals deadline: TBA
Abstract submission deadline: TBA

conference organizational cycle

This is the general cycle for the conference. For details on a specific conference please see its dedicated webpage.

  • Evolang takes place every two years, usually in March or April of even-numbered years. It typically spans four days (two half days and two full days).
  • The call for submissions goes out in the early months of the preceding year.
  • The deadline for submissions is in September of the preceding year.
  • Acceptance notifications are sent between November and December of the preceding year.
  • The conference announcement, with provisional programme, is made in January of the year of the conference.