The 9th Annual Language Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference (LSURC) will be held live and virtually on

February 27th and February 28th, 2026.

 

Our Plenary Speaker theme for this year is

“Endangered Languages & Language Revitalization”

Language holds stories, knowledge, and identities that shape our connections to the past, present, and future. Yet, many languages around the world face endangerment due to colonization, displacement, and systems that reduce linguistic diversity. This year, we highlight revitalization efforts to restore these languages. As we look forward to the future of language preservation, we also consider the ethics of documentation: Who controls linguistic records? How can we ensure that technology, including large language models, supports rather than harms communities? We acknowledge the vitality of Indigenous languages, the creativity of contact languages such as pidgins and creoles, and the role that schools, media, and community-led initiatives play in raising awareness and passing languages forward to the next generation. Join us in celebrating the resilience of linguistic communities and revitalization efforts to keep language and culture alive.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST YEAR’S WINNERS:

Oral Presentation:

First Place: Hope Trischuk (UBC), “Assessing Intuitions about Obviation in Learners of Anishinaabemowin”

Second Place: Dlorah Agama, Nanaki Dhaliwal, Vaidehi Asawa (UBC), “Music Priming Effect on Infant’s Perception of Japanese and English Phonetic Contrasts” 

Poster Presentation:

First Place: Victor Wong, Dayeon Choi, Ragul Loganathan (UBC), “Laughing Ultrasound: Speech-like or it’s Own Behaviour?” 

Second Place: Maddy Walter, Sabrina Luk (UBC), “The Effect of Musical Genre Expectations on Sung Accent Perception” 

Interested in getting involved or collaborating? Check out Get Involved for more information or email us at ubc.lsurc@gmail.com!