The 14th International Congress for Finno-Ugric Studies will take place at the University of Tartu in August
From August 18 to 23, the 14th International Congress for Finno-Ugric Studies (Congressus Internationalis Fenno-Ugristarum or CIFU) will take place at the University of Tartu Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics. It is the most important international academic event focused on Finno-Ugric studies, bringing together hundreds of participants from around the world. Presentations cover various disciplines, including linguistics, ethnography, ethnology, folkloristics, religion, history, and genetics. Registration is open until June 30.
The congress originated from the need for Finno-Ugric scholars to meet and collaborate, even under the constraints of the Iron Curtain. Since 1960, congress has been held every five years. Its founders include renowned Finno-Ugric researchers such as Kustaa Vilkuna and Lauri Posti from Finland, Paul Ariste from Estonia, and Gyula Ortutay from Hungary.
The congress programme includes a general session, a poster session, a roundtable discussion, 19 different symposia, and plenary talks. In the roundtable, Finno-Ugric researchers will discuss the topic “Finno-Ugric Studies meeting the People: how to convey information about our discipline?”. The programme will also feature excursions, a photo exhibition focused on Finno-Ugric people, and a book fair.
On Wednesday, August 20 at 6 p.m., there will be a presentation of the book First Language Acquisition in Finno-Ugric Languages, edited by Minna Kirjavainen, Ágnes Lukács, and Virve-Anneli Vihman (published by John Benjamins). The book will be presented by Virve-Anneli Vihman and Ágnes Lukács. The volume's 11 chapters provide an overview of existing research on first language acquisition in Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, and Northern Sámi.
CIFU plenary speakers
„Challenges of Standardizing a small Baltic Finnic Language (until the end of the 18th century): The case of Estonian“
Kristiina Ross is a Lead Research Fellow at the Institute of the Estonian Language. She has studied manuscript and printed Estonian Bible translations from the mid-17th century until the publication of the complete Bible in 1739, focusing on linguistic, translation-technical, and broader cultural-historical aspects.
Abstract (PDF)
„On contemporary research into Uralic grammar“
Jussi Ylikoski is Professor of Finno-Ugric languages at the University of Turku, Finland, and Adjunct Professor at the Sámi University of Applied Sciences in Guovdageaidnu, Norway. He has worked on several Saami, Finnic, and other Uralic languages, specializing in morphology, syntax, and historical linguistics.
Abstract (PDF)
„The Construction of Hungarian Grammar: Insights from Language Acquisition Research“
Ágnes Lukács is Professor of Cognitive Science at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, where she also leads the Doctoral School in Psychology. Her research explores how language and cognitive processes interact across typical and atypical development, drawing on linguistics and experimental psychology as well as developmental and clinical perspectives.
Abstract (PDF)
„The legacy of Éva Schmidt. A lifework on, to and for the Khanty“
Eszter Ruttkay-Miklián is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethnology, HUN-REN Research Center for the Humanities. Since 1991 she has been conducting ethnographic and linguistic fieldwork among the northern Khanty groups, especially along the Synya River.
Abstract (PDF)
„Building a Future for Livonian“
Valts Ernštreits is the Director and researcher of the Livonian Institute at the University of Latvia and a Livonian-born linguist and language activist. His research encompasses a broad range of fields, including language planning and standardisation, lexicography, grammar, geographical names, sociolinguistics, computational linguistics, and digital humanities.
Abstract (PDF)
Symposia
It is also possible to participate in the congress via Zoom. More information can be found on the congress website.
Register
The CIFU 14 project is co-funded by the European Union. The CIFU 14 project will receive 17 841,01 € as a funding from Enterprise Estonia for organizational and marketing costs.
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