International Conference Contemporary Sign Language Lexicography

International Conference Contemporary Sign Language Lexicography

Organizers: Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing clubs of Slovenia and the Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language (ZRC SAZU)

Date: 12–13 November 2026

Venue: ZRC SAZU Atrium, Novi trg 2, Ljubljana

Program Committee: Valerija Škof, Aleksandra Rijavec, Boris Kern, Simona Klemenčič, Matic Pavlič

Organizing Committee: Matjaž Juhart, Maja Vilar, Jana Dolinar, Boris Kern, Simona Klemenčič

In an era of rapid advancements in language technologies, digital dictionary resources, and corpus linguistics, sign language lexicography is emerging as one of the key fields of contemporary linguistics and accessible communication. The international conference Contemporary Sign Language Lexicography aims to bring together representatives of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, experts in the fields of lexicography, sign language interpreting, and language technology working in the documentation, description, and development of sign languages.

The conference will focus on presenting modern approaches to the creation of sign language dictionaries, sharing best practices, and discussing the role of dictionaries in language accessibility, education, standardization, and the social inclusion of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Conference themes:

creation and processing of sign language corpora,
presentation of best practices in sign language dictionaries,
standardization of sign languages,
the role of artificial intelligence and language technologies in dictionary development,
the needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community regarding dictionaries and language resources,
accessibility of dictionary content and user experience,
integration of sign language dictionaries with spoken language dictionaries,
didactic aspects of the use of sign language dictionaries.

The conference aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and long-term international collaboration in the field of sign language research, development, and lexicographical resources. We invite everyone interested in the future of sign language lexicography to participate.

FIRST ANNOUNCEMNET: CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

1 About the Conference

Conference themes:

creation and processing of sign language corpora,
presentation of best practices in sign language dictionaries,
standardization of sign languages,
the role of artificial intelligence and language technologies in dictionary development,
the needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community regarding dictionaries and language resources,
accessibility of dictionary content and user experience,
integration of sign language dictionaries with spoken language dictionaries,
didactic aspects of the use of sign language dictionaries.

Time and Location

Date: 12. - 13. November 2026
Venue: ZRC SAZU Atrium, Novi trg 2, Ljubljana

2 Presenters and participants

For Presenters who will prepare and present the presentation

You are invited to share your views on topics that Conference will discuss. We kindly ask you to send short description of your presentation in written English (max 1 page or 500 words) to info@zveza-gns.si until 16th august 2026. The commission will select presentations. The presenters will we notified in max 10 days and selected presenters will be asked to send in final presentation before the Conference in order to help interpreters and organizers to prepare. We will try to follow geographical and substantive criteria in order to meet all different expectations of the Conference.

3 Program

Program will be announced after the selection of presenters and will be available on official webside www.zveza-gns.si.

4 Registration

Application Form will be available on official webside www.zveza-gns.si in few weeks for those who will only attend the Conference. Selected presenters will be notified around that time.

Registration Fee

The registration fee for the for presenters will be lower and includes:

- Participation at all conference lectures

- Welcome package

- Welcome reception
- Interpretation from English to International sing and vice versa

- Refreshments during coffee and lunch breaks

- Certificate of Attendance

- Cultural event

Costs for traveling, accommodation and other costs are on participants.

5 Accommodation information

The venue of the Conference is located in the Centre of the City of Ljubljana. There are many different accommodations in walking distance. Below are some of them. More information will be available on official webside www.zveza-gns.si

Accomodation

Hotel name	Address	Web link/Where to book
Exe Lev Hotel	Vošnjakova ulica 1 1000 Ljubljana	Official website: https://www.exelev.com/ Special booking discount for conference participants: https://www.eurostarshotels.co.uk/exe-lev/mice.html?s=ZDGN&promotion_code=ZDGN
Hotel Intercontinental	Bavarski stolp d. o. o. Slovenska cesta 59 1000 Ljubljana	Official website: https://intercontinental-ljubljana.si/
Hotel Slon	Slovenska cesta 34 1000 Ljubljana	Official website: https://www.hotelslon.com/ Room booking: Best Western Premier Hotel Slon (travelclick.com)
Gran Hotel Union Eurostars	Miklošočeva cesta 1 1000 Ljubljana	Official website: https://www.eurostarshotels.co.uk/grand-hotel-union-eurostars.html Room booking: Rooms - Hotel Grand Hotel Union Eurostars in Ljubljana (eurostarshotels.co.uk)
Hotel City Ljubljana	Dalmatinova ulica 15 1000 Ljubljana	Official website: https://www.cityhotel.si/en/
Grand Plaza Hotel Ljubljana	Slovenska cesta 60 1000 Ljubljana	Official website: https://www.grandplazahotel.si/rooms

6 Travel information

Access to Ljubljana via:

AIR:

Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport is located 26 kilometres from Ljubljana (20 minutes by car).

Transfers to/from the airport:

· Shuttle transfers: GoOpti, Nomago, MNJ Shuttle, Markun Shuttle, ZUP prevozi.

· Taxi: Taxi services are available in front of the airport building.

· Rent-a-car: Consult the list of rent-a-car service providers at the airport.

· Bus: A regular bus route connects Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport and Ljubljana Central Bus Station (bus stop no. 28).

Other airports near Ljubljana:

(distance to Ljubljana in km)

· Airport Graz, Austria: 187 km

· Airport Klagenfurt, Austria: 85 km

· Airport Zagreb, Croatia: 140 km

· Airport Trieste, Italy: 130 km

· Airport Venice, Italy: 230 km

Contact Airport information:

· Phone number: +386 (0)4 20 61 981

· Website link: https://www.lju-airport.si/sl/leti/odhodi-in-prihodi/

ROAD:

Basic information

· Ljubljana is located at the crossroads of Slovenia's most important road routes. Motorway access from any of the neighboring countries is very easy.

· Road tax vignettes must be purchased for the use of Slovenian motorways, including the Ljubljana bypass. The roads where the vignette is required are marked by special vignette signs. Vignettes can be purchased at petrol stations located in the border areas of Slovenia's neighboring countries, at petrol stations, post offices and most newspaper kiosks in Slovenia, and at branch offices of the Automobile Association of Slovenia (AMZS) and other automobile clubs.

Further and contact information:

· Website link: https://www.dars.si/vignette_system/about_the_vignette

RAILWAY:

Basic information:

· The Ljubljana Railway Station is Slovenia's main railway station. It connects Ljubljana to Trieste, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Prague, Vienna, Graz, Budapest, Zagreb, and Belgrade. Railway is also a convenient means of transport within Slovenia, given that distances within the country are mainly short and travel costs low.

Contact information:

· Slovenian Railways call center T: 1999 (indicative call price is € 0.75; the price depends on the phone network you are calling from)

· Answering service (information on train timetables from Ljubljana) phone number: +386 90 939801

· E-mail: potnik.info@slo-zeleznice.si

· Website link: https://potniski.sz.si/

BUS:

Basic information:

· The Ljubljana Bus Station has regular services to all Slovenia's neighboring countries and the most popular tourist destinations within the country. Bus tickets can be purchased at the counter of the Ljubljana Bus Station or online from the Ljubljana Bus Station website.

Contact information:

· Phone number: +386 (0)1 234 46 00

· Bookings for bus tickets from Ljubljana: T: 1991 (the number is available only for calls placed from within Slovenian phone networks)

· E-mail: narocanje@ap-ljubljana.si

· Website link: https://www.ap-ljubljana.si/

References: https://www.visitljubljana.com/en/visitors/travel-information/how-to-reach-ljubljana/

7 Accompanying Events

· Will be announced

8 Organizers

Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing clubs of Slovenia and the Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language (ZRC SAZU)