Institutions, Centers and Labs

Language Development Lab

What kinds of linguistic knowledge do adult speakers possess? How do baby learners come to acquire complicated linguistic systems? Among various types of linguistic knowledge, our group focuses mostly on sound systems of languages, phonology. Language learners figure out sound contrasts (p vs. b), well-formed structures of sound sequences (blick vs. bnick), as well as  the system of sound alternations in different contexts (cat[s] vs. dog[z]). Our group approaches issues in phonological acquisition, by employing behavioral experiments and computational modeling with human subjects of all ages (from infants to adults).

The Brain and Second Language Research Laboratory (BSLL)

The Brain and Second Language Research Laboratory (BSLL) is a research group dedicated to investigating the neural mechanisms underlying language processing and acquisition in second language learners and bilinguals. The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including neuroimaging equipment and high-performance computers specialized for machine learning and cutting-edgue data analysis techniques. Led by a team of renowned experts in the field, the Brain and Second Language Research Lab is at the forefront of exploring the cognitive and neural processes that shape language learning and use. BSLL takes multidisciplinary approaches, combining perspectives from theoretical linguistics, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and computer science.

In addition to conducting research, BSLL also offers opportunities for students and researchers to get involved in ongoing projects. This includes undergraduate and graduate research assistant positions, as well as postdoctoral fellowships.

Formal Linguistics Forum (FLorum)

Description: What kinds of algorithms can capture how natural language sound systems work? What is the best way to represent the structure of words and sentences? What is the relationship between formal logic and the meanings of those words and sentences? What insights can theoretical models afford into the structure of conversations?

These and other questions are discussed at the Formal Linguistics Forum (or FLorum, for short), a working group that advances cutting-edge research in theoretical linguistics. The group’s interdisciplinary scope encompasses formal approaches to any aspect of language structure (including phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics—with an eye on phenomena that cross classic disciplinary boundaries), and welcomes research couched in or relevant to any formal theory of language.