Since 1985, the JLAO has been a forum for scientific exchange. They have welcomed some of the greatest names in the linguistics of East Asian languages, and each year enable researchers and students to present their work on East Asian languages. All the sub-disciplines of linguistics are represented, including: - diachronic or synchronic linguistics - phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics – writing system - field linguistics - theoretical linguistics - dialectology - typology - L1 acquisition, heritage language acquisition, L2 acquisition (description of the linguistic system of non-native speakers).