FEL XX Location: Hyderabad

This year's conference, entitled

Language colonization and endangerment: long-term effects, echoes and reactions

will be held at the University of Hyderabad, India, 9-12 December 2016.

Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, is known as the City of Pearls. It is also famous for its own Biryani and Haleem, along with succulent grapes and mangoes. It was once capital for the Nizam, and has hosted a confluence of diverse languages and cultures (the largest those of Telugu and Urdu), making this city truly representative of India's plurilingual and multiicultural ethos. And it is one of the most happening places in India as far as the IT industry is concerned. It also hosts a major airport, Rajiv Gandhi International.

The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad were built on ancient granites and gneisses, which outcrop in bizarre shapes. The Golconda Kingdoms, before the princely state of Hyderabad, produced magnificent diamonds such as the Koh-i-Nur "Mountain of Light", currently part of the British crown jewels.

The University of Hyderabad, established by the Government of India in 1974 is rated among the top academic institutions in the country. The University has received the highest grades by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and National Information System for Science and Technology (NISSAT) besides being declared by the University Grants Commission as University with Potential for Excellence. The intellectual atmosphere, like the natural setting too, is second to none. Integrated lakes, picturesque rockscapes and diverse flora and fauna make this lush green campus an exciting place for academic and research activities.

The Centre for Endangered Languages and Mother Tongue Studies (CELMTS) was established in September, 2010 as an independent Centre of the School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad. It is the first centre of its kind in any educational institution in India. The Centre started offering doctoral programme in Language Endangerment Studies from the academic session 2015-16, and it intends to offer short-term courses on Language Endangerment Studies and Documentary Linguistics in future. The Centre aims to train students, young scholars and speech communities in language documentation and conservation besides archiving of linguistic and cultural traits. The Centre has been inviting leading scholars in the field from the world over in order to expose interested students and faculty of University of Hyderabad to emerging trends in language endangerment studies. In addition, it has also been collaborating with institutions at national and international levels. In a short span of five years CELMTS has become visible globally asa leading institution..

The FEL XX conference programme, and a link for registration, can be found at

http://www.ogmios.org/conferences/2016/

Accommodation and meals are included in the cost of registration, for the period 8-12 December 2016. The last day will feature a joint excursion in the region.