Three students have been awarded in recognition of their outstanding research in the field of language studies.
Aliki Vasiliki Tzoutza from University College Cork, Ireland, was recognized for her thesis, “The Case of Gender Neutral Language in Bilingual Speakers of Greek and English.” Her research offers a comparative study of perceptions of non-binary language use in English and Greek, examining linguistic attitudes and pragmatic accuracy among bilingual speakers.
Olve Godø Sæther from the University of Agder, Norway, received the award for his thesis, “Engelsk tryggleik eller samfunnsberande norsk. Ei tilstandsanalyse av det parallellspråklege tilhøvet til sjøs, og sjøfolk sine haldningar til eige fagspråk.” His work investigates the parallel language situation in the Norwegian maritime sector, exploring maritime workers’ attitudes toward language use at work, as well as the reality of education, language policy, and maritime legislation.
Jillian Bainbridge from Åbo Akademi University, Finland, was also honored for her thesis, “Renaming Bannau Brycheiniog: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Comments Below-the-Line at Two British Newspapers.” Her study analyses online comment sections in two digital newspapers discussing the renaming of a Welsh national park from its English name to its Welsh name, examining how the discourse reflects broader ideologies resisting Welsh language revitalisation policies.
Two of the winners, Olve Godø Sæther and Aliki Vasiliki Tzoutza, presented their research at EFNIL’s 22nd Annual Conference in Vienna. All three awardees contributed valuable insights into language and education in Europe, furthering EFNIL’s mission to promote multilingualism. Their theses are available on the EFNIL website.
In addition, the jury awarded a Mention of Honour to Athena Fanaie from Manchester Metropolitan University for her thesis, “Examining Raciolinguistic Ideologies in Accent Training Programs for International Academic Staff and Students.”