Embodied and Situated Language Processing (ESLP) conference 2026

ESLP2026 : Embodied and Situated Language Processing (ESLP) Conference 2026

29-31 Jul 2026 Lancaster (United Kingdom)

ESLP2026 Lancaster 29th-31st July

This year’s conference brings together leading researchers to explore the neural, gestural, cultural, and social dimensions of language. We seek to foster an interdisciplinary synthesis that moves beyond the divide of abstract versus concrete meaning, examining the full continuum of language processing in both biological and artificial systems.

Abstraction and the Challenge of AI

While the field has established robust theories for the grounding of concrete concepts, the "hard problem" of abstract language remains a critical frontier. Furthermore, the rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) challenges the core tenets of embodied cognition, raising urgent questions: Can functional language competence emerge from statistical distributions alone, or is sensorimotor grounding a prerequisite for true understanding?

We particularly encourage submissions that address:

The Grounding of Abstraction: How do we represent concepts that lack direct sensorimotor correlates? What role do metaphor, affective systems, and social interaction play in this process?
Embodiment vs. Large Language Models: How do human neural architectures compare to the computational mechanisms of LLMs? What can the success (or limitations) of disembodied AI teach us about the necessity of embodiment?
Neural and Cognitive Mechanisms: How do brain networks support the transition from situated usage to abstract representation?
Gesture and Multimodality: In what ways do bodily actions help "anchor" abstract reasoning and communication?

By convening experts across neuroscience, linguistics, psychology, and AI, ESLP 2026 aims to clarify mechanisms, confront the universality of grounding, and chart new paths for integrating embodied theory with the realities of abstract thought and artificial intelligence.

You may also find the previous ESLP meetings here.

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