Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This postface celebrates AILA’s 60-year journey by reflecting on the visible brilliance and invisible labor that have shaped Applied Linguistics as a global, interdisciplinary, and socially engaged field. Drawing on metaphors of diamonds and mines, it highlights the duality between recognition and invisibility in language work — both in academia and society. It traces the evolution of Applied Linguistics from structuralist beginnings to its critical, decolonial, and transdisciplinary present, emphasizing AILA’s leadership in fostering multilingualism, equity, and justice. Looking ahead, it calls for ethical engagement with artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and global challenges while reaffirming AILA’s mission to advance research that is both rigorous and socially relevant.</jats:p>