We are pleased to announce From Words to Worlds: A Training School of Lexical Innovation, to be held from 7–11 September 2026 at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Tirana, Albania.

This training school is aimed at BA, MA, and PhD level students who are interested in exploring the dynamic field of lexical innovation and its applications across multiple domains. Participants will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the study, analysis, and managing lexical innovation taught through the following five modules:

Module 1: Fundamentals of neology
Module 2: Neology and translation & interpreting
Module 3: Neology and terminology
Module 4: Neology and language teaching
Module 5: Neology and lexicography

Funding: Travel (up to 400€), accommodation and daily allowance (for both up to 150€/day) will be covered as part of the ENEOLI project for 15 participants. Trainees are expected to cover their travel, accommodation, and subsistence expenses upfront, before receiving the grant, and will be reimbursed afterwards.  Travel reimbursement rules can be accessed here. 

Dates: 7–11 September 2026
Venue: Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
Format: In-person

Main language of instruction: English

How to Apply:
Interested students are invited to submit their applications here by 9 April 2026. Applications will be reviewed by the ENEOLI Core Group. Selection will be based on academic background, motivation, and relevance. The notification of acceptance or rejection will be sent by 24 April 2026 at the latest. 

Applications should include the following: 

A one-page motivation letter that outlines:

• Your affiliation, study level, and programme
• Your interest in lexical innovation
• An explanation of how attending the Training School would benefit your academic or professional work

PROGRAM:

Click here to access the PDF with full schedule details.

Module 1: Fundamentals of neology

Judit Freixa, Pompeu Fabra University & Cécile Poix, University of Lyon

In this module, we place neologisms within the overall lexicon, address the issues surrounding their definition, and present them as units whose main characteristic is their dynamism and variability. Then we examine the various mechanisms through which languages update their lexicon covering morphological, phonological, syntactic and semantic processes involved in the creation of new words, and we also analyse the borrowing of words from other languages with considerations of a sociolinguistic nature. Finally, we focus on the functions of neologisms and regarding the expressive functions, we analyse the pragmatic roles of neologisms that do not become stabilized in usage.

Module 2: Neology and translation & interpreting 

Petar Božović, University of Montenegro &Eriola Qafzezi, Fan S. Noli University

This module develops participants’ theoretical and methodological understanding of neological processes relevant to translation and interpreting, strengthening their ability to analyse linguistic innovation within specific communicative, cultural, and institutional contexts. Through hands-on, literary and non-literary case studies, participants identify and analyse neologisms using corpus-based, terminological, and lexicographic methods, and apply appropriate translation strategies in line with professional quality standards and conventions. The module emphasises practice-based learning by simulating complete professional workflows, including the strategic use of digital resources (CAT tools, corpus resources, terminology management systems, and/or AI-assisted technologies) for neologism management, while fostering critical reflection on the role and impact of neologisms in intercultural, professional and institutional translation practice.

Module 3: Neology and terminology

Amal Haddad Haddad, University of Granada & Michaela Hroteková, Comenius University, Bratislava

In this module, we aim at providing a global understanding regarding neology in specialised discourse and its sustainability, highlighting the transfer of terms across domains and genres. The session includes practical exercises related to the formation processes of neologisms in scientific domains, as well as terminology management tools related to the extraction of terms and neologisms and their analysis.

Module 4: Neology and language teaching

Daniela Hasa, University of Tirana & Etleva Koni, University of Tirana

This module will explore lexical innovation from a pedagogical perspective, with a focus on how neologisms can be meaningfully integrated into language teaching at advanced levels of education. The module will extend beyond the definition of neologisms to examine their potential as pedagogical resources that enhance lexical awareness, critical thinking, and learner autonomy. Participants will engage with authentic language data and classroom scenarios to analyse how learners perceive, process and apply new words. Particular emphasis will be placed on the design of teaching activities that link emerging vocabulary to discourse, register, and communicative intent. By the end of the day, participants will be able to critically assess teaching materials, develop neologism-based learning tasks, and reflect on the role of lexical innovation in promoting flexible and context-sensitive language competence.

Module 5: Neology and lexicography

Miguel Sánchez-Ibáñez, University of Valladolid & Ana Salgado, University of Porto

This module explores the relationship between neology and lexicography through four moments that combine theory and practice, showing what neologisms and dictionaries are meant to be together despite tensions between novelty, variation and lexicographic stability. It starts reflecting over the challenging relationship between neologisms and dictionaries, examining the concept of dictionarisation. The second moment focuses on macrostructural decisions: dictionary-making workflows and the different ways in which general-language dictionaries handle lexical novelty. The third moment turns to microstructure and hands-on work: participants will analyse the essential components of dictionary entries and collaboratively record and describe neologisms, effectively contributing to a small neologism dictionary. The final moment consolidates the results by comparing entries designed by the students themselves, agreeing on a shared template and editorial conventions, and harmonising form and content to create a final common outcome. 

Contacts: 

For financial questions/reimbursements: Katia Olivati (katia.olivati AT univr.it)

For logistic questions: Daniela Hasa  (hasadaniela AT gmail.com)

For queries on the content of the Training School: Judit Freixa (judit.freixa AT upf.edu) or Petar Božović (petarb AT ucg.ac.me)

Join us in exploring how new words shape the dynamics of the modern society!