For more then 30 years, the EGG Summer School for Generative Linguistics has a clear and enduring mission: to provide affordable, high-level training in generative linguistics for students and early-career researchers, while fostering exchange and discussion between linguists from East and West in an open, grassroots, low-key, friendly atmosphere. Over the years (see previous schools ), the EGG has become a unique space for intensive and collaborative education in generative grammar, bringing together cutting-edge theoretical work and close interaction between students and scholars (see the EGG manifesto ). Generations of students have studied at the EGG, and in many cases today are professional linguists and teachers at the EGG.
A defining feature of the EGG has always been its commitment to accessibility. The school has traditionally relied on external funding to cover travel and dorm accommodation for invited teachers (who teach for free), allowing us to assemble an international teaching team from multiple continents and to keep participation costs for students as low as possible. Thanks to the support of funding agencies, host institutions, and the wider linguistics community, this model has been remarkably successful for many years.
This year, the EGG finds itself in an unexpected and deeply regrettable situation. During the most recent funding cycle, actions were taken by individuals who had no authority to act under the guise of the EGG board, resulting in an irregular funding application being submitted in the name of the EGG in September 2025 without the authorization of its duly constituted leadership (see the detail here). Faced with this irregular situation, the funding body understandably declined to review any application submitted under the EGG’s name. This disruption has left the summer school without access to its usual sources of financial support at a critical moment.
In the meantime, the preparations for the upcoming EGG 2026 in Brno are running as usual, and we are happy to have started announcing teachers who have confirmed their commitment to teaching in Brno. At the same time, funding discussions are currently ongoing, and we expect to have greater clarity in due time. We are actively working to secure the resources needed to support travel and accommodation for the teaching team, and to keep student fees modest; final participation of the teachers announced will depend on the outcome of these efforts. Where possible, teachers are also seeking complementary support through their home institutions.
For these reasons, the EGG is seeking community support to carry out its mission. We are turning to the broader community for help in ensuring that the summer school can take place as planned. In addition to ongoing institutional funding efforts, we are launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to support the participation of our invited teachers and the continuation of the EGG’s mission.
The EGG has always been a collective endeavor, sustained by the generosity, goodwill, and shared intellectual commitment of the generative linguistics community. Crowdfunding allows those who value the EGG — former students, teachers, colleagues, and supporters — to contribute directly to preserving a space that has played an important role in training generations of linguists.
If you are able to contribute, you will be helping to ensure that confirmed teachers can attend and teach; keep student fees moderate; maintain the accessibility and academic quality of the summer school; and allow the EGG to continue offering an open, grassroots and rigorous environment for learning and exchange.
We are deeply grateful for any support, financial or otherwise, and for the continued trust of the community during this exceptional moment. Further updates will be shared as funding discussions progress.
Thank you for standing with the EGG.
The EGG team
Alex Chabot
Dana Isac
Tobias Scheer