General thematics:

The terms “minority language” and “minor(i)sed language” like Blanchet’s (2005) theorising attempt on the conceptual features fields of “minority”, “minoration (undervaluing)”, and “minorisation” through an interdisciplinary analysis, deliberately emphasis a structural process of hierarchisation as socio-politic type (ibid). It allows us to understand the complexity and the amplitude of the consequences on the targeted populations, and their linguistic behaviours. 

However, we notice an abundance of terminologies, which depend on the context of the categorised language (status gap, geographic, cultural and linguistic sphere, etc...), the person’s assimilation who suggests categorisation (an academic situation, activist situation, etc), or even on the aim of the categorisation processes (search for official recognition, determination for non-commitment by a State, etc).  

This highlights the need for global reflection on these issues, and therefore for dialogue between the participants involved (academic and non-academic), in an interdisciplinarity and intercultural approach as dynamic exchanges around good research practices on both sides. 

Following an initial Franco-Brazilian preparatory workshop held on 21 and 22 January 2025 in Bordeaux, which was conceived as a laboratory for reflection on research and scientific communications practices. The RECLAM International Colloquium (2025, November, 17-18 and 18th) in Bordeaux, will suggest three main areas for reflection as categorisation/transmission/ epistemology). 

We will be honoured to welcome French sociolinguist Philippe Blanchet (Professeur des Universités, Rennes, France) and Brazilian linguist and language didactics specialist Valdir Heitor Barzotto ( University of Sao Paulo) for two plenary lectures. 

From the point of view of exchange and inclusion, the RECLAM conference is looking for participants with various backgrounds: 

• Teacher-researchers

• PhD students 

• Non-academic participants (e.g. volunteer associations) are involved in language support or revitalisation initiatives.