Trinity Centre for Asian Studies

Enjoy these shots from our Summer School for Ancient Trans-Himalayan Languages 2026!

From 15–27 June 2026, the Trinity Centre for Asian Studies (TCAS) proudly hosted the Summer School for Ancient Trans-Himalayan Languages (SSATH) 2026, bringing together students and scholars from around the world for two weeks of intensive learning and academic exchange at Trinity College Dublin.

Organised by Dr Lijing Peng under the direction of Professor Nathan Hill, the summer school offered specialist courses in Old Tibetan, Tangut, Yi Script, Reconstructing West Kho-Bwa, and Proto-Gyalrongic, as well as a weekend workshop on Old Burmese.

Participants learned from an outstanding international team of instructors, including Professor Tim Bodt, Dr Joanna Bialek, Dr Yunfan Lai, Professor Kazue IWASA, Dr. Shuya Zhang, and Dr Yue Ji.

Their collective expertise introduced students to the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the Trans-Himalayan language family. Professor Nathan Hill also participated in the programme, leading discussions during the weekend workshop on Old Burmese.

Lots more happens beyond the classroom!

The summer school fostered an international community of early-career researchers and established scholars, creating opportunities for collaboration, discussion, and the exchange of ideas.

We extend our sincere thanks to Dr Lijing Peng, organising assistant Josiah Medin, all instructors, participants, and supporters for making SSATH 2026 a great success.

We can't wait to welcome the next generation of historical linguists back to Trinity.



Trinity College Dublin Global
Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation

Reminder: places are filling quickly for Gateway to Japan: Secondary School Summer Programme 2026🇯🇵 at UCD!

1-week immersive programme where students will explore Japanese language and culture through hands-on workshops, cultural activities, manga, music, sports, and interactive exchange experiences.

📍 University College Dublin, Belfield
📅 15-19 June 2026
⏰ 10:00-15:00 Daily
💶 Course fee €100

If you know any secondary school students who may be interested, please share this opportunity with them and their families.

Info: https://www.ucd.ie/japan/newsevents/japaneselanguageandculturesummerprogrammes/

Come discover Japan beyond the textbook, make new friends, and experience an unforgettable week of culture, creativity and collaboration.



Embassy of Japan in Ireland
Experience Japan Ireland Japan Association Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce Trinity Centre for Asian Studies UCC - Department of Asian Studies
TCD Japanese Society DCU Japanese Society UCD Japanese Society Japanese Language Teachers of Ireland (JLTI)

Languages Connect Post-Primary Languages Ireland

See you for coffee on June 25th!

☕️🎟️ Invitation to our community coffee morning at Trinity College Dublin! Thursday 25 June from 11am to 12.30pm.

Meet our fantastic Living Observatory researchers, have a free cuppa and some treats, and enjoy one of the most beautiful rooms in Trinity, located over our main Front Arch.

ISL interpreting provided.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/lifelangs-living-observatory-summer-coffee-morning-tickets-1990317453080?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

SSATH 2026 Opening Lecture:
Why Does Anthropology Need Linguistics in the 21st Century?

Our Summer School for Ancient Trans-Himalayan Languages (SSATH 2026) opens with a special lecture by Professor Nicholas Harkness, Modern Korean Economy and Society Professor of Anthropology at Harvard University.

The lecture revisits Franz Boas's landmark 1889 essay On Alternating Sounds, a foundational text in linguistic anthropology that challenged prevailing assumptions about Indigenous North American languages and transformed how scholars think about language, culture, and knowledge.

Drawing on this intellectual tradition, Professor Harkness will explore the enduring relationship between linguistics and anthropology, arguing that linguistic analysis remains essential for understanding sociocultural processes and refining ethnographic inquiry.

Harkness's research examines the role of language, communication, and semiotic processes in the formation and transformation of social groups. His influential work on Christianity, language, and social life in South Korea has helped shape contemporary linguistic and semiotic anthropology.

The lecture will begin with welcome remarks from Professor Nathan Hill.

📍 Room 4074, Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin

📅 Sunday, 14 June 2026 | 4.30pm (Dublin time)

This event will be of particular interest to scholars and students of anthropology, linguistics, Asian studies, sociolinguistics, semiotics, and ethnography.

For those attending SSATH 2026, the lecture offers an opportunity to reflect on the broader intellectual foundations connecting language study with the analysis of culture and society.

More summer school info at
https://www.tcd.ie/Asian/courses/historical-linguistics-summer-school/index.php





Language Exchange Ireland
Trinity College Dublin Global
Post-Primary Languages Ireland
TCD School of Linguistic, Speech and Communication Sciences