LSPPC6: 6th International Conference of Asia-Pacific LSP & Professional Communication Association (Online Conference)

The Asia-Pacific Languages for Specific Purposes & Professional Communication Association is pleased to announce the 6th International Conference of the LSPPC on the theme of Multimodality and Beyond: Addressing complexity and emerging needs in LSP.

The study of Languages for Specific Purposes and Professional Communication has progressed rapidly over the past thirty years. Recent developments suggest emerging needs for English language learners that require more sensitive conceptual frameworks and methodologies. The pervasive use of digital media has led to the development of academic and professional practices that are multimodal, plurilingual and often seek to engage diversified audiences. At the same time, technology and new methods have become readily available to study LSP and Professional Communication in a widening range of settings from increasingly diverse angles, shedding light on complexity that understandably once lay beyond the standard analytical purview. The use of digital technologies along with theoretical and methodological developments in areas including multimodal discourse analysis, multimodal interaction, gesture studies, and embodied cognitive science have revolutionized our understanding of specialized language and communication.

The 6th international conference of the Asia-Pacific LSP & Professional Communication Association aims to develop a high resolution picture of how our field is dealing with these scientific and technological advances. To help achieve this aim, five scholars who are renowned internationally for their work related to the conference themes have been invited to deliver plenary lectures and run hands-on workshops for the conference participants. Additionally, the conference program will feature three invited panels on the themes of the conference, convened and chaired by specialists in this area. Given the importance of gesture to multimodality, we are pleased to be organising this conference in collaboration with the regional hub of the International Society of Gesture Studies (ISGS Hong Kong).