Workshop details

The Fifth meeting of the Princeton Phonology Forum (PɸF 2026) will be held at Princeton University on May 15–May 16, 2026. The theme for PɸF 2026 is Register and subtonal features. 

This workshop aims to foster fruitful discussions about the empirical landscape of tonal features and/or registral effects like upstep and downstep, and the implications of these effects on our theories of tonal representation. To do so, we are bringing together scholars who have been involved in different facets of these debates to share how the languages they study weigh on questions of tonal representation and register. The list of speakers is as follows:

• Pius Akumbu (CNRS/LLACAN)
• Gabriela Caballero (UC San Diego)
• Claudia Duarte-Borquez (UC San Diego)
• Larry Hyman (UC Berkeley)
• Florian Lionnet (Princeton University)
• Laura McPherson (Dartmouth College)
• Nicholas Rolle (Princeton University)
• Keith Snider (SIL)
• Anthony Struthers-Young (Princeton University)

As part of the workshop, we will host a poster session. We welcome submissions of abstracts for posters on any topics related to tone, with preference for posters on tonal representation, upstep, and downstep. Though accommodations will not be provided for most poster presenters, we plan to have a friendly competition whereby travel expenses and accommodations for the student with the best abstract are covered.

Timeline

• The abstract is due on February 15th, 2026 
• Acceptance messages will be sent out on March 15th
• The workshop will be held on May 15th-16th

Abstract specifications

• Abstracts are at most one page, plus an additional page for figures, examples, and references
• The abstract must be anonymous
• 1-inch margins with 12pt font

Additional details

• The student with the best abstract will have their travel and lodging covered 
• Refreshments will be supplied for both days; breakfast and lunch will be supplied on the 16th