KOTA KINABALU, 21 August 2026 – The increasingly interconnected nature of the global landscape, driven by technology and spanning multiple languages and cultures, demands concerted efforts to preserve linguistic diversity, the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has said.
Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Hj. Mansor, JP, said language is not merely a system of communication but rather a vessel for history, identity, knowledge, culture and a sense of belonging – enabling meaningful participation in social life, connecting communities and safeguarding heritage.
“The circumstances we face today present vast opportunities for cross-border communication and collaboration,” he said in his keynote address at the opening of the 5th International Conference on Languages, Linguistics and Society (ICLALIS) 2026, held at UMS’s Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language (PPIB).
Under the theme “Languages in Action: Linguistic Diversity, Accessibility, and Social Inclusion,” ICLALIS 2026 serves as a platform for scholars, educators, researchers, policymakers and practitioners to exchange views, forge partnerships and discuss contemporary language issues.
Prof Kasim encouraged participants to make full use of the conference to strengthen scholarly dialogue, challenge existing assumptions, explore interdisciplinary collaboration and generate innovative ideas that would have an impact beyond the academic sphere.
Meanwhile, the Dean of PPIB UMS, Professor Datuk Dr Ismail Ali, said ICLALIS 2026 reflected UMS’s commitment to celebrating linguistic diversity and protecting linguistic heritage, particularly within the context of Sabah, which is rich in both linguistic and cultural variety.
“Language is not merely a tool for communication; it connects cultures, preserves identity and empowers communities,” he said.
He added that the exchange of knowledge throughout the conference was expected to spark new ideas and collaborations in the fields of language, linguistics and society, while also benefiting institutions and local communities.
The Chair of the ICLALIS 2026 organising committee, who is also Deputy Dean of Research, Innovation and Community Service at PPIB UMS, Dr Daron Benjamin Loo, said this year’s conference had attracted 70 participants from both local and international backgrounds, including delegates from China, Hong Kong and Nigeria, with a total of 65 papers presented – 17 online and 48 in person.
Dr Loo said ICLALIS 2026 had also strengthened regional academic networks through the involvement of keynote speakers from Taiwan and Singapore, alongside the pre-launch of the book Negotiating Belonging in Borneo: Narratives of Ambivalence, part of the Asia in Transition series published by Springer.
“Through this book and ICLALIS, we hope to foster further collaboration that will strengthen regional academic networks, while also expanding scholarly research on Sabah and Borneo,” he said.
