DiGS27
Diachronic Generative Syntax
University of Padova
on June 16-19, 2026
We are pleased to announce that the 27TH DIACHRONIC GENERATIVE SYNTAX conference (DiGS27) will be held at the University of Padova (Italy) from June 16-19, 2026.
Since its first edition in 1990, DiGS has established itself as the leading venue for the formal investigation of syntactic change in the generative framework. More information about the history (and near future) of this conference series can be found at http://walkden.space/digs/ .
DiGS will be hosted by the Department of linguistic and literary studies in Padova.
The main conference will feature a half-day workshop entitled ‘NEGATION UNDER THE LENS OF DIACHRONY’, which will take place on June 16th. The objectives of this workshop will be to investigate the diachronic evolution of clausal negative marker(s) in relation to the Jespersen cycle and its exceptions, to its connection with the phenomenon of negative concord, changes in the morphosyntax of negative indefinites and the connection to general properties of the languages investigated which might have triggered the change in the negative marker. The workshop’s keynote speaker will be prof. Chiara Gianollo, specialist in the syntax and semantics of negation in diachrony. For the workshop, we especially welcome proposals featuring a solid empirical basis on the evolution of negation in all its aspects, in particular concerning the factors that trigger, block, speed up or slow down the diachronic evolution of negative markers, negative indefinites and their positional, semantic and etymological properties.
Following the tradition initiated in Mannheim and Oxford, a roundtable discussion for linguists to meet and discuss the legacy of the Penn corpora is organized on the first day.
The invited speakers for the conference are:
- Chiara Gianollo (University of Bologna, Italy)
- Edith Aldridge (Academia Sinica, Taiwan)
- Hans Martin Gärtner (Academy of Science, Hungary)
E-mail: digs27unipd@gmail.com
Dates: 16-Jun-2026 – 19-Jun-2026
Location: Padova, Italy
Full Title: 27th Diachronic Generative Syntax
Short Title: DiGS27
Scientific committee
Linda Badan
Tommaso Balsemin
Davide Bertocci
Enrico Castro
Ivano Ciardelli
Jacopo Garzonio
Francesco Pinzin
Cecilia Poletto
Emanuela Sanfelici
Beatrice Santorini
Organising committee
TBA
Call for Papers
Linguistic Fields: Historical Linguistics; Linguistic Theories; Syntax
Call Deadline: 31 January 2026
Presentations should contribute to any aspect of diachronic generative syntax (e.g., syntactic change, or methodologies directly informing the field).
We invite abstract submissions for:
- Oral presentations (30 minutes + 10 minutes for questions)
- Workshop presentations (30 minutes + 10 minutes for questions)
- Poster Presentations
Language: The language of the conference is English, but submissions can focus on any language.
Format: Please indicate in your submission whether you want your presentation to be considered for an oral and/or poster session, and whether it is for the workshop or for the general session.
Length & style: Abstracts should be anonymous and no longer than two A4 pages, including references and examples, in 12-point Times New Roman, with margins of at least 2,5 cm / 1 inch.
Submission: Submissions for the conference are limited to a maximum of one individual and one joint abstract per author, independently from submissions for the workshop.
Where to submit: Submission platform: https://openreview.net/group?id=DiGS/2026/Conference
Important dates:
- The deadline for submission: January 31, 2026.
- Notification of acceptance: February 28, 2026.
Programme
- Workshop: 16 june
- Main session: 16 june
- Main session: 17 june
- Main session: 18 june
- Main session: 19 june
- Poster session 1
- Poster session 2
Info for presenters
(main conference & workshop)
All communications will be in person.
Posters
- Your poster should be A0 in size (84,1 cm x 118,9 cm or equivalently 33” x 47”), vertical portrait orientation.
- We will be providing clips for you to fix your poster on the poster board.
- Unfortunately, we cannot provide printing services. If you need to print your poster locally, there are various (not internal) options close to the conference venue, e.g., https://www.copisterialacornucopia.it .
Oral presentations
- Your oral presentation should be 20 minutes, followed by a 10 minute discussion.
- If you are using slides, you can use either our or your own computer. In the latter case, we suggest you bring your adapter. If you are using a .ppt powerpoint, prepare a .pdf copy to have it ready just in case of any inconvenince.
- If you are using handouts, please prepare at least 40 copies.
- Unfortunately, we cannot provide printing services. If you need to print your handout locally, there are various (not internal) options close to the conference venue, e.g., https://www.copisterialacornucopia.it .
Registration & Payment
- Click here to register to the conference: (available soon)
- Click here to confirm your registration by paying your fee: (available soon)
Location & Practical Info
Conference Venue
The conference will take place in:
room 9, Complesso Beato Pellegrino, Via E. Vendramini 13 – Padova
Accommodation
Suggested accommodation near the venue of the conference
Casa al Carmine
Via E. Vendramini, 1 – Padova (PD)
https://www.casaalcarmine.it
Patavium
Via Beato Pellegrino, 106 – Padova (PD)
https://www.hotelpatavium.it
Europa
Largo Europa, 9/10 – Padova (PD)
https://hoteleuropapadua.com-hotel.com
Verdi
Via Dondi dall’Orologio, 7 – Padova (PD)
https://www.albergoverdipadova.it
How to get to Padova
For information on how to get to Padova, please follow the link below.
https://www.unipd.it/en/coming-padua
