The idea of students organizing a conference was initiated by Tanmoy Bhattacharya, Department of Linguistics University of Delhi and a few students in 2002 which finally became a reality in 2006 with generous and prompt funding from Central Institute of Indian Languages, CIIL, Mysore. This new beginning initiated by the students of Linguistics and language studies in India has infused renewed energy and enthusiasm into the field. The long term positive consequences of this effort will lead to direct and effective intervention in the quality of research in Linguistics in India. SCONLI (Students’ CONference of Linguistics in India) encourages studies which uncover new findings and provide an honest appraisal of their relevance to the field in general. This is a step forward in not only ushering new research among the Linguistics students in India but also in taking the study of Linguistics science ahead.

The first SCONLI was held in Hyderabad December 2006 by the students of Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL), Hyderabad. SCONLI 2 is an international conference being organized by the students of the Department of Linguistics, University of Delhi to be held on Jan 9-10, 2008.

There will be 24 paper presenters from all over the world. The participants from outside India include students from Iran, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Poland, Russia and Nepal. For the first time, a poster session has also been included which will encourage local and international students to present their ideas in a brief yet succinct manner to a specialised as well as general audience. From within India, apart from University of Delhi, students from Banaras Hindu University, University of Calcutta, Jawaharlal Nehru University, CIEFL, Kashmir University, Aligarh Muslim University, University of Lucknow, Hyderabad Central University,  will take part in the event. The abstract selection committee consisting of eight reviewers (5 students and 3 teachers) went through the rigorous process of examining a vast number of abstracts followed by a selection committee meeting which decided finally on 24 abstracts selected for presentation.

CIIL, Mysore has yet again come to fore in providing a generous grant support along with the Department of Linguistics, which, we hope, will set a new trend in the academic activities of research students in Linguistics. Nearly 100 registered participants are expected. Prof Rajesh Bhatt, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts, Department of Linguistics will deliver the keynote address. Faculty members of the University of Delhi, CIIL, JNU will be invited as experts to participate in the event. Two days will consist of a total of four sessions, two before lunch and two after lunch on each day. Each paper presenter will be allotted 15+5 minutes for presentation and discussion.

The SCONLI2 committee also plans to publish some of the selected papers for publication in the form of a book. The proposed book will also be useful for students looking for research questions and planning to write research proposals.