The Fourth Gibraltar International Conference (GIC4) concluded recently at the University of Cádiz, following two full days of presentations, literary discussions, and academic debate centred on Gibraltar’s language, literature, and cultural identity. The conference was organised by Professor Rafael Vélez of the University of Cádiz and his team, and brought together scholars, writers, and postgraduate researchers from across Europe.

This year’s edition featured three plenary lectures, each addressing a different dimension of Gibraltar’s linguistic and cultural landscape:

• Plenary 1 — Professor Elena Seoane (University of Vigo): “Silenced by colonialingualism: Language erasure and literary invisibility in Gibraltar” Chair: Francisco Javier Fonseca Rengel.
• Plenary 2 — Professor Esterino Adami (University of Turin): “Im/polite writing from Gibraltar: the case of M. G. Sanchez’s Lowlife Tales” Chair: Professor Rafael Vélez.
• Plenary 3 — Professor Andrew Canessa (University of Essex): “Memory and Forgetting in Gibraltar” Chair: David Levey.

Beyond the plenaries, the conference offered a broad programme of linguistic and literary panels. Topics included multilingualism, code‑switching, language loss, cultural gatekeeping, Gibraltar English, the marginalisation of Gibraltarian Literature, sociolinguistics, women’s literary visibility, and the evolving cultural narratives of the Rock.

The programme also included Rafael Vélez in conversation with M. G. Sanchez about his new book Lowlife Tales.

Literary sessions further featured work by Jackie Anderson, Giordano Durante, Humbert Hernández, and other Gibraltarian writers. A separate session, “In conversation with Humbert Hernández”, chaired by Isabel Alonso, gave attendees the chance to engage directly with one of Gibraltar’s veteran literary voices.

Contributions came from researchers representing institutions including the University of Cádiz, University of Vigo, University of Seville, University of Bern, the Universuty of Turin, the University of the Balearic Islands, the University of Barcelona, the University of Basel, The University of Essex, the University of Santiago de Compostela, and others.

The event received extensive coverage across the Spanish media, with reports appearing in Diario de Cádiz, Canal Sur, Campo de Gibraltar Siglo XXI, Cadiznoticias.es, and other regional outlets.

It was announced that GIC4 will be held in 2027 at the Universitat de les Illes Balears. Furthermore, both the University of Turin and the University of Barcelona have already expressed an interest to hold the event in 2028 and 2029.

Full GIC4 Programme

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

10:00 – Plenary Session 1 Elena Seoane (University of Vigo): “Silenced by colonialingualism: Language erasure and literary invisibility in Gibraltar” Chair: Francisco Javier Fonseca Rengel

11:30 – Rafael Vélez in conversation with M. G. Sanchez about his new book Lowlife Tales

Track A: Linguistics — Chair: Victor Lara

• John Manuel Enriles: Simultaneous multilingualism: a native’s perspective
• María José Gómez Ramos: Perceptions of pride and devaluation in the use of Llanito

Track B: Literature & Culture — Chair: Maurice O’Connor

• Mirian Salvador: “Beyond the Blue”: Reflections on the sea in the poetry of Jackie Anderson
• Ina Habermann: Giordano Durante – Gibraltarian poet‑philosopher
• Jackie Anderson (online): Out from the Shadows: Visibility of women’s voices in literature

Afternoon sessions

Track A: Linguistics — Chair: Francisco Javier Fonseca Rengel

• Marta Pérez Galán & Ángel Luis Jiménez Fernández: Expletive There‑Passives and Broad Focus
• Marta Rodríguez García: Language shift and code‑switching among young adults
• Marina Pérez‑Martín: Gibraltar English: Evidence of Americanization in Grammar?
• Verónica Silva‑Folgar: Presenting the Spoken Corpus of Gibraltar English (SGibE)
• María Victoria Rodríguez‑Lázaro: Subject Relativizers in Gibraltar English
• Francisco Javier Fonseca Rengel: The Linguistic and Semiotic Landscape of Gibraltar’s Primary Thoroughfares

Track B: Literature & Culture — Chairs: Ina Habermann / Carmen Fernández

• Dominic Francis Lopez: Colonial Educational Policies and Language/Cultural Loss
• John Calderon: Media and the Erosion of Spanish
• Ryan Asquez: Belonging and Otherness in Church Registers (1683–1704)
• Rebecca Calderon: Al Margen – The Birth of the Gibraltar Fringe
• Anna Macdonald: Women and Leadership: Llanito and the Absence of a Female Chief Minister
• Trino Cruz Seruya: The STRAITVILLE Chronicles – A Work in Progress

Thursday, 7 May 2026

09:30 – Plenary Session 2 Esterino Adami (University of Turin): “Im/polite writing from Gibraltar: the case of M. G. Sanchez’s Lowlife Tales” Chair: Rafael Vélez

Track A: Linguistics — Chair: Salim Abderrazak

• Darío Barrera‑Pardo: Stop consonants on the Rock
• Dale Buttigieg: Beyond the Code‑Switching: Llanito’s English Lexicon
• Aimée‑Elizabeth Lewis Grossman & Ángel L. Jiménez‑Fernández: Code‑switching in adolescents

Track B: Literature & Culture — Chair: Rafael Vélez

• Isabel Alonso‑Breto: Men who Care in GibraLit: M. G. Sanchez and Humbert Hernandez
• Giordano Durante: Humbert Hernandez: A Snapshot
• Jonathan Teuma: Identity, memory and territory in Mis patios perdidos
• In conversation with Humbert Hernández (Chair: Isabel Alonso)

Afternoon sessions

Track A: Linguistics — Chair: Victor Lara

• Cristina Suárez‑Gómez & Lucía Loureiro‑Porto: Language Attitudes in Gibraltar English
• Hugo Parra et al.: Mapping the Multilingual Ecology of Gibraltar

Track B: Literature & Culture — Chair: Isabel Alonso

• M. del Castillo García: Women and Image: On the Other Side of Gibraltar
• Humbert Hernandez: Inertia and Entropy Facing Writers

16:00 – Plenary Session 3 Andrew Canessa (University of Essex): “Memory and Forgetting in Gibraltar” Chair: David Levey

17:00 Jonathan Teuma in performance: ¡A‑SLAM‑BABA‑LUBA… A‑SLAM‑BAM‑BU!

17:45 Conference Closing