2026 - Firenze
The 23rd Annual EFNIL Conference
21st-23rd October, 2026, Firenze, Italy
General theme:
The role of media in the use of the languages of Europe
Hosted by Accademia della Crusca
Programme
14.00 – 15.00 Registration and sandwich
15.00 – 17.00 Introduction to Zoom Interpretation, EFNIL General Assembly
18.00 – 20.00 Reception – Standing buffet and drinks
Welcome address by local authorities
08.15 – 09.00 Transport Bus: Hotel > Accademia
Session 1 – Introduction to the conference main theme (Chaired by Cecilia Robustelli)
9:00 – 09:30 Welcome speeches
Paolo D’Achille, President of the Accademia della Crusca
Genoveva Ruiz Calavera, European Commission (SCIC)
Kezia Pellinghelli, European Parliament
Sabine Kirchmeier, President of EFNIL
09:30 – 10:00 Alessandro Lenci: The Language-AI Loop: How Languages Shape LLMs and LLMs Shape Languages (abstract)
10.00 – 10.30 Britta Schneider: Language Norming and Language Technologies – From Print Literacy to Machine-learning (abstract)
10.30-11.00 Coffee Break
Session 2 – Theme A: Media and language standards (Chaired by Sabine Kirchmeier)
11.00 – 11.20 Margrethe Heidemann Andersen, Thomas Hestbæk Andersen: The Danish Language Council in a changing political and media landscape: contemporary developments (abstract)
11.20 – 11.40 Darius Ivoska: The Future of the Lithuanian Language: Between Media Influence and Societal Choice (abstract)
11.40 – 12.00 Ola Karlsson: How to standardize linguistic norms in the media when nobody has the mandate to decide (abstract)
12.00 – 12.20 Henna Makkonen-Craig: The role of media language in the development of Finnish in the 2020s (abstract)
12.20 – 12.50 Discussion
12.50-13.50 Lunch by courtesy of the Accademia della Crusca
14.00-14.30 Event: Guided tour of the Accademia
Session 3 – Theme B: The effect of AI on language standards and vocabulary (Chaired by Andreas Witt)
14.40 – 15.00 Jutta Ransmayr: AI as proof-reader? Potential effects of AI on non-dominant varieties of pluricentric languages – a case study with Austrian media texts (abstract)
15.00 – 15.20 Piotr Pęzik: Towards Semantic Bleaching: On the De-Generative Impact of GenAI on Language in the Media (abstract)
15.20 – 15.40 Svetla Koeva: Current Processes in the Language of Bulgarian Media (abstract)
15.40 – 16.00 Discussion and questions
16:00 – 16:20 Break
Session 4 – Theme C: Media, multilingualism and minorities I (Chaired by Kozma Ahačič)
16.20 – 16.40 Isabelle Elena Tamba: Shaping Words, Shaping Minds: Media – The Living Laboratory Of Romanian Language (abstract)
16.40 – 17.00 Anna Gazdik: Media Use of Minority Languages in Austria (abstract)
17.00 – 17.20 Olena Ivanovska: The Use of the State Language in Ukraine’s Media Sphere: Between the Priority of the State Language and Multilingual Reality (abstract)
17.20 – 17.40 Discussion and questions
18.00 – 18.30 Transport Bus: Accademia > Hotel
19.00 – 19.30 Tramvia from the Hotel to Santa Maria Novella and short walk to the restaurant
20.00 – 22.00 Conference dinner in town
Session 5 – Theme C: Media, multilingualism and minorities II (Chaired by Željko Jozić)
9.00 – 9.20 Giorgi Alibegashvili, Tinatin Bolkvadze: The Languages of Media in Georgia (abstract)
9.20 – 9.40 Sjef Barbiers: A Macroscope for the Dutch Language and Society (abstract)
9.40 – 10.00 Claire-Lyse Chambron, DGLFLF/Ministry of Culture, and X., a Representative of ARTE GEIE (to be specified): Language policy, technological innovation and the media: challenges for language and multilingualism – the example of ARTE/ARTE+ Europe (abstract)
10.00 – 10.20 Nina Teigland & Annvor Seim Vestrheim: Norwegian language under pressure? A mapping of Norwegian-language media available to children and young people (abstract)
10.20 – 10.40 Discussion
10.40 – 10.45 Address by Alessandra Petrucci, Rettrice Università di Firenze
10.45 – 11.15 Coffee Break
Session 6 – Master ‘s Thesis Award (Chaired by Ari Páll Kristinsson)
11.15 – 11.45 Announcement of the winners
11.45 – 12.05 Stef Accou: TIPA: Typologically Informed Parameter Aggregation (abstract)
12.05 – 12.25 Martina Magrin: Languages on the Wall. Promoting Plurilingualism in the Schoolscape through the Progetto Lingua Madre of the Centro Studi Immigrazione of Verona (abstract)
12.25 – 12.45 Laura Moreno: Access to Healthcare for Dutch-Speaking Patients in Brussels – A Comprehensive Investigation of Linguistic Barriers in a Multilingual Context (abstract)
Closing Session – Conclusion
12.45 – 13.00 Sabine Kirchmeier: Conclusion of the conference
13.00 – 14.00 Sandwich lunch/packed lunch
14.00 – Social Program
14.00 – 15.00 Tramvia from the Hotel to Santa Maria Novella and short walk to Piazza della Signoria
15.00 – 16.00 Visit of Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio
Conference Venues
21 and 23 October – General Assembly, 2nd Day of the Conference
Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli
Via Sandro Pertini 2/9, Florence
Google Maps – Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli
22 October – 1st Day of the Conference
Accademia della Crusca
Via di Castello 46, Florence
Google Maps – Accademia della Crusca
Getting to the Hotel
✈️ If you are arriving at Florence Airport (Peretola), the easiest option is the T2 tram towards San Marco. Get off at San Donato – Università, which is a short walk from the Hilton Garden Inn (7-10 minutes). The same tram carries on to Santa Maria Novella railway station and city centre (Alamanni stazione stop).
Google Maps – San Donato – Università – Hilton Garden Inn
🚄 If you are arriving by train at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, you can take the T2 tram at Alamanni stazione stop towards Peretola Airport and get off at San Donato – Università.
Google Maps – Santa Maria Novella → Hilton Garden Inn
Tram tickets can be purchased from ticket machines, at authorised sales points or via contactless payment.
🚕 Alternatively, you can take a taxi.
Getting to Accademia della Crusca
🚌 On Thursday, 22 October, EFNIL will provide bus transportation between the hotel and the Accademia della Crusca:
- 08:15 – Bus from Hilton Garden Inn → Accademia della Crusca
- 18:00 – Bus from Accademia della Crusca → Hilton Garden Inn
Social Programme
🍷 On Wednesday, 21 October, there will be a Reception at the Hotel with a standing buffet and drinks.
🍽️ On Thursday, 22 October, the Conference Dinner will take place at Ristorante Sabatini, located at Via Panzani 9A, 50123 Firenze. The restaurant is a short walk from Santa Maria Novella train station, which can be reached directly from the hotel by taking the T2 tram.
🏰 On Friday, 23 October, we are organising an optional visit to the Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio. Places are limited, and participation must be confirmed with the Secretariat in advance.
Public Transport
Florence has an extensive network of trams and buses. A standard urban ticket is valid for 90 minutes and can be purchased from ticket machines, at authorised sales points or via contactless payment.
To visit the centre of Florence and its main sights (e.g. the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, the Lungarni, Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery, Piazza Santa Croce, etc.), we recommend taking the T2 tram from the stop near the Hotel Garden towards San Marco, getting off at the Santa Maria Novella stop and continuing on foot.
