From October 25 to 27, 2024, the International Conference on Language Development, Aging, and Disorders for Special Populations, hosted by the Center for Studies of Aging Language and Care at Tongji University, was successfully held on the Siping Road Campus of Tongji University. Faculty and students from both domestic and international institutions, including Stanford University (USA), University of Potsdam (Germany), University of Warwick (UK), University of Lisbon (Portugal), National University of Singapore, as well as Peking University, Tongji University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shandong University, Renmin University of China, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, gathered in person and online to discuss topics related to child language development and disorders, adult language behavior and health, and language aging and attrition. The conference themes reflected cutting-edge interdisciplinary trends and hot topics at the intersection of linguistics with medicine, cognitive science, sociology, psychology, and gerontology.

Professor Lu Peiming, Executive Vice President of Tongji University, delivered the opening address. He noted that foreign language education and research at Tongji University, which began with German language instruction in 1907, has now evolved into a comprehensive development path for the discipline of foreign language and literature characterized by cross-disciplinary innovation and a focus on cutting-edge issues. Driven by the goal of addressing major theoretical and practical problems, the university has cultivated several interdisciplinary innovation teams with significant national influence, achieving integration across disciplines, integration of scientific research and education, and integration of industry and academia, thereby establishing a distinctive "Tongji brand." Professor Li Qinghua, President of the Medical Language and Translation Committee of the China Association for Comparative Studies of English and Chinese, extended congratulations to the conference on behalf of the society. Professor Gu Yueguo, Chair of the conference, delivered a speech on behalf of the organizing committee. Professor Shen Qi, Associate Dean of the School of Foreign Studies at Tongji University, expressed gratitude to the attending faculty and students on behalf of the host institution. Professor Wang Xiaolu, Distinguished Professor of Zhejiang University City College, provided conference commentary. Professor Huang Lihe, Deputy Director of the Office of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tongji University, chaired the conference.

Renowned experts including Professor Gu Yueguo of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Professor Gao Yihong of Peking University, Professor Annette Gerstenberg of the University of Potsdam, Professor Yoshiko Matsumoto of Stanford University, Professor Boyd Davis of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Professor Louise Cummings of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Gwen Bouvier of Shanghai International Studies University, Professor Chang Hui of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Professor Ma Wen of Shandong University, and Professor Yang Xiaohu of Tongji University presented research findings on topics such as assessment of aging language abilities, hospice care discourse practices, lifespan pragmatics research, language behavior of older adults with dementia, dementia care and language communication, clinical diagnosis and pragmatic features of dementia, health discourse and women's health, assessment of aphasic speech features and rehabilitation training, echolalia in children with autism, and Mandarin tone perception among older adults in Shanghai. These presentations demonstrated theoretical thinking, practical translation, and social application of leading scholars both domestically and internationally in relevant fields.

Professor Zhang Qingfang of Renmin University of China, Professor Wang Huili of Zhejiang University City College, Professor He Wenguang of Qufu Normal University, Professor Chang Xin and Associate Professor Dong Jing of Tongji University, Dr. Zhang Wei of City University of Hong Kong, and Dr. Zhou Deyu of East China University of Science and Technology organized parallel sessions focusing on phonetic, lexical, syntactic, and pragmatic research on special populations. The discussions among participants encompassed descriptive research on language features and theoretical model hypotheses, explanatory research on neurocognitive mechanisms, as well as applied research such as cognitive training methods for children's language development and the development of language markers for cognitive impairment in older adults based on artificial intelligence. This conference was held against the backdrop of global population aging and increasing recognition of the importance of lifespan language research. The conference aimed to explore theoretical constructs and practical issues arising from language development, aging, and related disorders. This field has become a hot topic in international interdisciplinary linguistic research and is of great significance for building a comprehensive and complete theoretical system of linguistics.