iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Thank you very much! We're glad you enjoyed the conference, and we hope to meet our colleagues again soon! 😀

ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Thank you very much for your kind words, Rosario! It's been a pleasure to have you here with us in Santiago! See you soon ☺️

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

A heartfelt thank you to our speakers, attendees, convenors, volunteers, and everyone behind the scenes whose dedication made this event possible. Safe travels, and see you again soon!

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

And that's a wrap! After five intense and inspiring days of presentations, discussions, and shared experiences, our conference has come to an end. We hope all participants return home with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and friendships that will last well beyond these few days.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Lastly, Irena Vassileva (New Bulgarian University in Sofia, Bulgaria) examined how AI is reshaping academic integrity in higher education and academic publishing, discussing ethical issues and advocating for a culture of transparency and critical thinking.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Lieven Vandelanotte (University of Namur & KU Leuven, Belgium) told us how internet memes are reshaping how English is used and understood in digital communication, creating new grammatical patterns, offering fresh perspectives on language, communication, and multimodal meaning-making online.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Sofia Rüdiger (Freie Universität Berlin, Germany) analysed English-language food videos that turn eating into spectacle, from mukbangs to cooking shows, to explain how language, visuals, and eating practices construct identities and foster online communities in contemporary digital food culture.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

From buzzing insects to crashing impacts, Lívia Körtvélyessy (Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia) showed us how 88 languages across the world represent sounds through onomatopoeia, revealing the fascinating balance between universal patterns and linguistic diversity in human language.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The conference's final parallel lectures proved to be the icing on the cake!

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Their contributions attest to the diversity and vitality of emerging research across English Studies. Congratulations to all presenters for making the symposium such an inspiring exchange of ideas!

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The ESSE conference also included a vibrant Doctoral Symposium, where PhD candidates presented their ongoing research, received valuable feedback, and engaged with fellow scholars in a supportive academic environment.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Prof. Nyman discussed contemporary African fiction, explaining how migration, mobility, and borderscapes generate new identities, challenge conventional notions of culture and belonging, and reveal the interconnectedness of histories, places, and communities.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

What happens when borders are understood not as fixed lines but as dynamic spaces of encounter? That was the question Prof. Jopi Nyman (University of Eastern Finland, Finland) asked this morning in our last plenary lecture.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Check out the photos for a glimpse of a memorable evening!

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Last night, our participants enjoyed an evening of music and poetry, good food, relaxed conversation, and shared moments beyond the lecture halls. The gala dinner offered a beautiful setting to celebrate the community that has come together over these days.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Last but not least, Christine Reynier (Paul-Valéry University, Montpellier 3, France) turned our attention to the early fiction of Virginia Woolf, Winifred Holtby, and Sylvia Townsend Warner, highlighting intimacy as a shared material experience that reaches beyond the private sphere.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Marzanna Pogorzelska (University of Opole, Poland) examined how English language textbooks subtly convey neoliberal values through their representations of work, consumerism, environmental responsibility, and social issues.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Elena Di Giovanni (University of Macerata, Italy) traced the evolution of linguistic and cultural accessibility since the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, highlighting innovations such as audio description, Easy-to-Read texts, and AAC that foster inclusive access for all.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

This morning, James Corby (University of Malta, Malta) reflected on the post-literary condition, where storytelling, affect, and performance shape everyday life even as literature loses its traditional centrality.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The conference is in full swing!

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Highlights from this morning's coffee break and poster session! Alongside the plenary lectures and seminar/round table/doctoral presentations, these moments of discussion and networking are what make conferences such inspiring spaces for learning and collaboration.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Finally, Titela Vîlceanu (University of Craiova, Romania) explaind how digital tools are reshaping literary translation, revealing stylistic patterns while preserving the translator’s creative voice, uncovering the balance between technological innovation, human agency, and ethical responsibility.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

In an age of AI, digital media and rapid change, Natália Pikli (Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary) demonstrated the continuing relevance of Shakespeare studies, from innovative research methods and critical thinking in the classroom, to work in mental health, prisons, and theatre.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Drawing on newspaper coverage from tuberculosis, Spanish Flu, and COVID-19 pandemics, Minna Nevala (University of Helsinki, Finland) examined how language has shaped public perceptions of illness and identity.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Ovidiu Ivancu (Vilnius University, Lithuania) explored how posthumanist literature reimagines identity beyond the human, highlighting connections between people, technology, animals, and the environment.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Keep reading for a summary of Tuesday's parallel lectures!

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

In her lecture "The Revolution Will Be Inflatable (Short Fiction in an Age of Tactical Frivolity)”, A. L. Kennedy reflected on the power of fiction at uncertain times. Emphasising emotions and imagination, she argued that storytelling remains a vital way of engaging with contemporary challenges.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Our Welcome Reception party brought participants together to start the conference in the best possible way!

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Prof. Hartmut Stöckl (Salzburg University, Austria) analysed multimodal coherence in award-winning travel advertising, examining how visuals, minimal text, and cohesive links combine to build compelling arguments.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Prof. María Losada-Friend (University Pablo de Olavide, Spain) applied Emotionology to the accounts of three women travellers who witnessed Spain in the years leading up to the Civil War.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Prof. Katerina Kitsi-Mitakou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece) investigated how iconic authors, characters, and quotes are transformed into powerful tools for political commentary and social critique in online spaces.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Three parallel lectures took place on Monday afternoon

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Can language really be controlled? In her lecture , Prof. Karen Corrigan (Newcastle University, UK) examines Swift’s and Sheridan’s efforts to regulate Irish English and investigates their legacy through the attitudes of young speakers in modern Northern Ireland.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The 2026 ESSE Conference in Santiago is now officially open! Be ready to learn about new research and join inspiring discussions with scholars and colleagues in the broad field of English Studies. Wishing all participants a productive and inspiring event!

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Over the centuries, USC expanded its academic offer, embraced periods of reform and modernisation, and played a significant role in Galicia’s intellectual and cultural life. Today, its campuses in Santiago and Lugo continue a long tradition of teaching, research and service to society.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Founded in 1495 with the creation of a Grammar Studium, it received papal endorsement in the early 16th century and was recognised as a Royal University in 1555. In the picture, statue of Alonso III de Fonseca, founder of the University. (Photo credits: USC’s Virtual Museum)

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

With a history spanning more than five centuries, the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) is one of Spain’s oldest universities.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

We look forward to welcoming you all to Santiago in a few days! Photo credits: Xaime Cortizo, Alberto Bandín and Anxo Iglesias for Santiago’s Tourist Office

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Get ready to discover Santiago de Compostela! From its UNESCO-listed historic centre and rich pilgrimage heritage to its thriving cultural life, excellent cuisine, and welcoming atmosphere, the city offers the perfect setting for learning, networking, and exploration.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Are you prepared for the 2026 ESSE conference in Santiago? The Organising Committee would like to remind attendees that information about travel, accommodation, the conference venue, etc. can be found on the official website: www.esse2026.com/en/index.php The countdown begins!

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

This last plenary lecture will be held on Thursday, 3rd September at 12PM, in the 2026 ESSE Conference in Santiago de Compostela.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

In his lecture “Borders, Borderscapes, and Global African Writing: Reading Aboulela, Mahjoub, and Gurnah”, Prof. Nyman will be exploring how global encounters and border crossings question fixed ideas of borders and nation-based interpretations in African writing.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

A leading scholar of migration, identity, and border studies, Prof. Nyman has published extensively on Anglophone literatures, transcultural narratives, and cultural encounters.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Meet our last plenary speaker, Prof. Jopi Nyman. He is Professor of English at the University of Eastern Finland and Director of its Borders, Mobilities, and Cultural Encounters Research Community.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

We can’t wait to hear what A. L. Kennedy has to say about the enduring appeal of the short story in the 2026 ESSE Conference in Santiago de Compostela!

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Kennedy is an award-winning Scottish writer from Dundee, known for her novels, short stories, non-fiction, and children's books. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, she also writes for stage, screen, television, and radio, and occasionally performs as a stand-up comedian.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Writer and performer A. L. Kennedy will be delivering the lecture “The Revolution Will Be Inflatable (Short Fiction in an Age of Tactical Frivolity)”, on Tuesday, 1st September at 11:30AM.

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ESSE 2026 @2026esse.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Prof. Corrigan’s lecture, titled “‘Smoothed’ and ‘Polished’ Syllables: ‘Verbal Hygiene’ in the Age of Swift and Sheridan” will take place on Monday, 31st August. We’re looking forward to hearing more about her research in linguistic prestige on the 2026 ESSE Conference in Santiago! 📷: BBC

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