In:60 Years of Applied Linguistics: Toward more engaged research
Edited by Grégory Miras, Isabel Colón de Carvajal, Nathalie Blanc and Shona Whyte
[AILA Applied Linguistics Series 22] 2026
► pp. 192–199
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Postface
Shining diamonds and invisible mines intertwined in the history of AILA
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
For any use beyond this license, please contact the publisher at rights@benjamins.nl.
Published online: 9 March 2026
https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.22.postface
https://doi.org/10.1075/aals.22.postface
Abstract
This postface celebrates AILA’s 60-year journey by reflecting on the visible brilliance and invisible
labor that have shaped Applied Linguistics as a global, interdisciplinary, and socially engaged field. Drawing on metaphors of
diamonds and mines, it highlights the duality between recognition and invisibility in language work — both in academia and
society. It traces the evolution of Applied Linguistics from structuralist beginnings to its critical, decolonial, and
transdisciplinary present, emphasizing AILA’s leadership in fostering multilingualism, equity, and justice. Looking ahead, it
calls for ethical engagement with artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and global challenges while reaffirming
AILA’s mission to advance research that is both rigorous and socially relevant.
Article outline
- Projecting into the future
Notes References
