Researchers found that the brain's language comprehension system can detect the basic structure of a short sentence in roughly 150 milliseconds, similar to visual scene perception. This rapid processing capacity suggests that our brains may be able to make snap decisions based on quick messages.
A research by the LAELA group of the UJI has shown that multilingual educational programmes facilitate language and content learning. The study highlights the importance of promoting the mastery of English without neglecting other languages in the curriculum, as multilingual competence is an advantage for learning a foreign language.
A new study found that consonant lengthening is a universal trait in many languages, helping listeners identify word boundaries. The researchers analyzed data from the DoReCo corpus and found evidence of lengthening in 43 out of 51 languages.
Researchers propose that sign language classifiers are integrated into the grammar through pictorial representation, appearing in a comic book-like order. This visualization mechanism allows for greater flexibility and complexity in language, complementing standard words with iconic expressions.
Researchers found that large language models (LLMs) can improve systems that detect bots by outperforming state-of-the-art systems by 9%. However, LLMs can also reduce the performance of existing detectors by up to 30% when used to evade automated detection.
Studies analyzed nearly 30,000 shows, movies, novels, and crowdfunding pitches to find that more and bigger narrative reversals led to better ratings and increased downloads. The research supports Aristotle's idea of peripeteia as a key feature of a good story.
Researchers created a data set of over 10 million documents to test detection ability in current and future detectors. They found that most detectors only work well in specific use cases and can be easily evaded by manipulating the text. The new tool, RAID, aims to provide a standardized benchmark for robust detection.
Researchers at University of Bath and Technical University of Darmstadt found that large language models like ChatGPT cannot learn independently or acquire new skills, making them controllable and predictable. The study concluded that LLMs remain inherently safe, but misuse is still possible.
A new study reveals that parents use less redundant language with older children, highlighting the impact of perceived language proficiency on communication. The researchers employed an innovative method by quantifying redundancy in infant-directed speech using entropy rate.
Research by Lancaster University found that people in higher social grades, including corporate world and education sectors, are adopting each other's speech patterns to be more inclusive. This 'resonance' has increased over the past 20 years, particularly among those with high social status.
A novel study led by NUS linguists reveals that seniors with memory-related mild cognitive impairment exhibit distinct speech patterns, including reduced noun usage and increased abstract thinking. These findings hold promise for developing language-based interventions to address dementia symptoms.
A European research team conducted experiments in weightlessness to isolate the classic diffusion phenomenon, closing the gap with experimental validation. The study used a sounding rocket to create a state of almost complete weightlessness, allowing researchers to run their experiments automatically.
A study involving 75 researchers from 55 languages found consistent patterns in music and language features, such as pitch, timbre, and rhythm. The research suggests that songs may have evolved to facilitate social bonding and synchronisation, with slow, regular melodies making it easier for large groups to sing together.
George Mason University Assistant Professor Marcos Zampieri received $20,000 from the National Science Foundation to subsidize travel and conference expenses for students participating in the NAACL 2024 Student Research Workshop. The workshop aims to develop a skilled and diverse computational linguistics workforce.
A new study highlights the importance of differentiating between formal and functional competence in language learning models. Researchers argue that leveraging human neuroscience insights can help develop more powerful AIs that mimic the brain's modularity, leading to improved performance and natural user interaction.
Researchers found that individuals with mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) struggle with ambiguous sentences, indicating a key deficit in processing complex language. This deficit is independent of memory loss and may serve as an additional 'cognitive biomarker' for early detection.
A study published in the Yearbook of the German Cognitive Linguistics Association investigated over 500 English synonyms for 'drunk'. The researchers found that these words mainly occur in specific combinations, such as "too/so/very drunk", and are often used to express drunkenness in a humorous or indirect way. The study suggests that...
A new study finds that Americans from the South mimic Southern speech patterns when actually listening to a Southerner, but only shift their speech when told they're hearing a Southerner. Non-Southerners, however, are influenced by stereotypes and only shift their speech when told so.
A recent study by Tokyo University of Science has identified central emotions across languages through word association-based colexification networks. The researchers found that concepts like GOOD, WANT, BAD, and LOVE are associated with many other words representing emotions.
Researchers investigate how creaky voice use varies across different areas of Sydney, finding that the area's diversity plays a significant role. The study reveals mixed results regarding the influence of gender on creaky voice use, with no statistically significant difference found between men and women.
A study by Prof. Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer shows that Star Wars words and constructions are increasingly used in digital English text corpora. The study reveals that these words have reached the highest level of integration into the English language, with many uses referencing tangible objects like toy lightsabers.
Researchers found that bilingual individuals were more efficient at ignoring irrelevant information compared to monolinguals. This ability is thought to arise from the constant language switching required in bilinguals. The study's findings suggest that bilingualism may have cognitive benefits, particularly in attentional control.
A paper by Anthony Chemero explains how AI thinking differs from human thinking, highlighting the limitations of large language models trained on biased data. Despite generating impressive text, these models can make up facts and produce biased outputs due to their lack of embodiment and understanding of context.
Researchers found that second language English speakers underestimate how much they are liked by others, with females underestimating their speaking skills even more. This 'liking gap' can limit beneficial interactions and hinder meaningful relationships, potentially affecting students' academic and social integration at universities.
The Society for Neuroscience recognizes six researchers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women in neuroscience. Karen Froud receives the Bernice Grafstein Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Mentoring for her dedication to mentoring female neuroscientists. BJ Casey receives the Mika Salpeter Lifetime A...
Researchers at New York University developed a novel learning procedure called Meta-learning for Compositionality (MLC) that enables neural networks to make compositional generalizations. MLC outperforms existing approaches and is on par with, and in some cases better than, human performance.
A linguistic phenomenon reveals specific rules governing sentence construction, shedding light on universal features of human language. The researchers found that 'whom of which' obeys strict rules, contributing to a larger discussion about syntax and the existence of pied piping.
A meta-analysis of 71 studies on autism suggests that people with autism may acquire language differently than neurotypical individuals. While interventions aimed at promoting social communication showed no significant language gains, some children with autism learn language without social interaction, such as through digital tablets. ...
The Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science (OECS) is a dynamic web reference that will equip readers with essential tools to grapple with the profound implications of cognition and intelligence in today's society. With generous funding from James S. McDonnell Foundation and the Allen Institute for AI, the first set of articles will be ...
Researchers found that white English speakers' accents have shifted away from traditional Southern pronunciation since Generation X. The study, published in Language Variation and Change, used archived and new recordings to analyze vowel patterns, finding distinct changes between baby boomers and Gen X.
A new study by USF researchers found that linguistics experts were unable to distinguish between AI- and human-generated abstracts less than 39 percent of the time. The study concluded that ChatGPT can write short genres as well as humans, while longer texts are easier to identify as AI-generated
A new dictionary provides a comprehensive overview of Shakespeare's language, revealing words with reduced mental ability and plant hybrids. The Arden Encyclopedia of Shakespeare's Language offers insights into the linguistic thumbprints of plays and characters, as well as the networks of character interaction.
WVU linguists analyze speech recordings to determine how intensity and duration shape pronunciation in American English and Spanish. The two-year study aims to redefine sound patterns across languages.
George Mason University Assistant Professor Anastasopoulos leads a research project to create infrastructure for language technologies in crisis scenarios. The project aims to facilitate effective communication with vulnerable populations and will disseminate results through a workshop featuring experts from various fields.
Researchers combined linguistics and genetics to propose a new origin theory for the Indo-European languages, suggesting an ultimate homeland south of the Caucasus. The study estimated the family to be approximately 8100 years old, with five main branches split off by around 7000 years ago.
The USC PRECOG project aims to develop automated screening tools for clinicians using objective neural and physiological signal biomarkers. The team will advance interdisciplinary methods in neuroscience, linguistics, and machine learning to better understand mental health risk factors.
MagEIA, a new Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, will research magical text traditions of the ancient Near East, Egypt, and neighbouring regions. The project aims to develop new methods of textual analysis and models of cross-cultural comparison.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open analyzed emoji use among hospitalists and found that emojis do not cause confusion or affect professionalism. The researchers analyzed thousands of lines of messages and discovered that emojis often serve a linguistic role, adding new information to the conversation.
A new international study reconstructs the legacy of Chile's largest indigenous community, the Mapuche, through genetics and linguistics. The research reveals distinct Mapuche lineages originated locally and have remained in relative isolation, punctuated by episodes of contact with other South American populations.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that officers' first 45 words during a vehicle stop with a Black driver can indicate how the stop will end. The study discovered a unique 'linguistic signature' that characterizes escalated stops, where officers give an order without stating the reaso...
A recent study investigated social media posts of emergency medicine physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing key thematic shifts in language related to anxiety, anger, depression, and loneliness. Social media was found to provide a real-time landscape for evaluating emotional well-being among healthcare workers.
The Grambank database reveals that regions with all Indigenous languages endangered face the greatest consequences of language loss. The analysis shows a decline in functional richness worldwide but highlights harshest effects in Northeast South America, Oregon, Alaska, and northern Australia.
Researchers found Sedition Hunters community successfully used Twitter to identify suspects with real value, creating multi-angle composite images and overcoming barriers in first images collected. The team's creativity and law enforcement interest contributed to the community's success.
Scientists measured brain waves in participants and artificial intelligence systems to reveal similarities in how the brain interprets speech. The study provides a window into the operation of AI systems, which have been advancing rapidly but remain largely opaque.
The study highlights the importance of language documentation and revitalization to preserve human communication, culture, and cognition. Grambank reveals that language loss is occurring unevenly across major linguistic regions, with indigenous languages in northeast South America, Alaska, and northern Australia at highest risk.
Research by Professor Mila Vulchanova reveals associations between language development and cognitive skills in children. Non-verbal tests show that severity of language difficulties can be predicted based on cognitive markers, supporting the importance of measuring both verbal and non-verbal skills.
A new study reveals that the English language is biased towards addition when it comes to improvement, leading people to overcomplicate things. This linguistic bias is found at multiple levels of language structure and use, influencing decisions and behavior.
A study by Dr. Roman Lietz and Dr. Fergal Lenehan found that socially engaged Twitter users share similar values and motivations, including a commitment to human rights, tolerance, and understanding. Despite the harsh environment of social media, these individuals demonstrate surprising similarities in their perspectives on society.
A 17th-century satire on marriage employs fragments from Elio Antonio de Nebrija's Latin grammar to justify arguments. The study highlights Nebrija's significant role as a Latinist over his Spanish grammar.
Research from the University of Notre Dame finds that boards of directors generally get it right in rewarding and sanctioning CEOs based on their performance. The study also reveals that higher-performing CEOs earn more, are dismissed less, and receive more CEO media awards.
The Aston University Institute for Forensic Linguistics is part of the AUTHOR research consortium, which aims to infer authorship of uncredited documents based on writing style. The project will focus on feature discovery and has promising applications in identifying counterintelligence risks and combating misinformation online.
Researchers used machine learning to analyze high-frequency oscillations in patients' brains during deep sleep, distinguishing between epileptogenic and non-epileptogenic regions. The study achieved an 85% accuracy rate, suggesting a promising method for predicting seizure outcomes.
A new study by NYU researchers reveals that our brains use a 'time-stamp' mechanism to process the order of incoming sounds, allowing us to correctly recognize words being said. The brain achieves this feat by correlating different neural populations with specific speech sounds and time-stamping each sound with its relative order.
Researchers at Stockholm University developed a fully automatic method to categorize English smell words into offensive, malodorous, fragrant, and edible smells. The study's findings have great potential for standardizing vocabularies in the food and perfume industries.
A study by Professor Dennis Murphy Odo found that automatic text simplification (ATS) software makes authentic materials more comprehensible for L2 learners with high reading proficiency. However, the tool's effectiveness is limited for learners with lower reading proficiencies. The researcher suggests that ATS tools need to be further...
Researchers found that AI language models exhibit significant implicit bias against individuals with disabilities, resulting in inaccurate sentiment analysis and potential misclassification of posts as toxic. The models' biases were apparent in various applications, including autocorrect and social media content moderation.
Researchers from McGill University and MIT developed an AI system that can learn the rules and patterns of human languages on its own. The model automatically generates higher-level language patterns that can be applied to different languages, achieving better results.
Research finds that certain features of 'baby talk' such as pitch, melody, and articulation rates have consistent properties across most world languages. However, the exaggeration of vowel sound differences varies significantly between languages. As infants develop language skills, IDS gradually becomes more similar to adult speech style.
Researchers found that infants differentiate sounds based on neighboring sounds and vowel durations. Their study suggests that babies can learn the speech contrasts of their language through naturalistic speech data.
A team of researchers at USC has developed a system to quantify and fix anti-queer bias in AI-powered text prediction. By training the popular language model BERT on queer-inclusive data from Twitter and news articles, they significantly reduced biases in predictions, with QueerTwitter showing the most effective results.