Autumn School: Minority and endangered language varieties of Asia

Enrolment

Enrolment form

Deadline: October 15th, 2026
Maximum enrolment: 35 students

Programme information

  • Period: November 9-14, 2026 
  • Location: Sala delle Trifore, San Sebastiano, Dorsoduro 1686, 30123 Venezia
    On the afternoon of 14 November, the activities will conclude at the Sala Blu of the Istituto Canossiano San Trovaso, Fondamenta Eremite, 1323, 30123 Venice, VE

Presentation

Minority languages, often at risk of extinction, represent not only an invaluable cultural heritage but also a fundamental resource for understanding the linguistic and cultural diversity of our contemporary world.

The Autumn school focuses on minority languages attested and/or currently spoken in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Northeast Asia, Islamic Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent – a geographical breadth reflecting an international vocation and a diversity of expertise, and fostering interdisciplinary synergies across research fields.

The Autumn School unfolds along three complementary strands of linguistic inquiry:

  • historical linguistics, tracing how these languages evolved over time and how they relate to one another;
  • typological linguistics, comparing linguistic structures to uncover universal and area-specific patterns;
  • sociolinguistics, exploring how minority languages live within their speech communities – how they are used, passed down, and shaped by language policy.

Together, these three lenses offer participants a rich, multidimensional understanding of the languages under study.

Classes will be taught by faculty members and by international experts specifically invited for the occasion, ensuring the highest scientific standard and giving participants direct contact with leading scholars in the field.

The initiative is also situated within the framework of activities promoted by the Eutopia Alliance.

Autumn School Faculty

  • Juha Janhunen (University of Helsinki)
  • Ekaterina Gruzdeva (University of Helsinki)
  • Sami Honkasalo (University of Helsinki)
  • Hans Nugteren (Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony)
  • Aleksandra Jarosz (Adam Mickiewicz University)
  • Katia Chirkova (École des hautes études en sciences sociales)
  • Attila Rákos (University of Budapest)
  • Soung-U Kim (Università di Napoli l'Orientale)
  • Maté Rottar (Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest)
  • Bettina Leitner (University of Vienna)
  • Matteo di Chiara (INALCO, Parigi)
  • Saloumeh Gholami (Cambridge University)
  • Elisabetta Ragagnin (Ca' Foscari DSAAM)
  • Elia Dal Corso (Ca' Foscari DSAAM)
  • Simona Olivieri (Ca' Foscari DSAAM)
  • Raima Auyeskhan (Ca' Foscari DSAAM)

Last update: 15/09/2026