Researchers Jane Schneider and Peter Schneider uncover a diverse Sicily, where the mafia and antimafia have distinct values and practices. The study reveals Sicilians' ability to organize democratically for community goals, challenging established views on their culture.
A study by Professor Sali Tagliamonte found that female adolescents tend to use words like, just, and so more frequently in their conversations as they get older. This language change occurs earlier than in males, with 15- and 16-year-old females using the word 'like' most frequently.
A multidisciplinary team at USC Viterbi School created a two-way voice translation system that turns doctor's English questions into Persian and vice versa. The Transonics Spoken Dialog Translator uses a combination of human observation, computer code, and machine learning to achieve fluent communication.
Biblical scholarship must move beyond 'reverential antiquarianism' to make meaningful connections with modern society. Professor Bradley McLean argues that classical and biblical studies are using outdated approaches, resulting in limited funding and public interest.
Researchers found that adults can improve their recognition of speech sounds in foreign languages through training. The study showed a significant improvement in recognition accuracy after a 10-session training course.
A new dictionary has been published to support the teaching of the Native American language Nuuchahnulth, with only two hundred people able to speak it. The language, spoken along the coast of Vancouver Island, has a complex sound structure and is considered one of the most morphologically complex languages.
Children as young as kindergarten begin to question self-interest statements, but only start endorsing biases equally plausible for incorrect statements in sixth grade. Most elementary school age children are harsher judges of others than adults and older children.
Researchers found nearly half of ancient grains were rice, contradicting earlier theories. The discovery also suggests a rice-wheat complex developed before writing emerged in the region.
Archaeologists have discovered ancient sheep dung in the Negev Desert, revealing the earliest evidence of domestic herding in the region. The dung dates back an estimated 7,000 years and has preserved valuable information about the lives of early pastoral nomads.
Researchers from University of California at Santa Barbara explore traditional methods for making maize beer, barley and emmer wheat beer, and other ancient beverages. They find that operational chains of food and beverage production offered challenges and opportunities to sponsors, shaping feasting strategies.
A new strand of research applies the principle of self-organization to linguistics, suggesting that languages follow a pattern of tendencies rather than universal grammar. The study involves computer simulations where computers develop a common vocabulary and recognize sounds, eventually creating homophones in context.
The Internet has led to a renaissance in informal writing, with online diaries and blogs increasing expressive range. Professor Crystal argues that concerns about language deterioration are misplaced, as new technology has increased informality in writing.
Researchers at U of T used 3-D ultrasound to analyze tongue function after surgery, creating a baseline for 'Joe Canadian' tongue reconstruction. The study aims to improve speech outcomes for patients with tongue cancer.
Researchers at Purdue University found that parts of the human brain think about prepositions in different ways when it comes to time and location. The study used language tests with stroke patients and found that words like 'on' and 'in' are processed independently, regardless of their spatial meaning.
A recent linguistics study found that people from different cultures use varying numbers of emotion words, with a greater emphasis on negative emotions. The researchers discovered that older adults tend to have more diverse vocabularies when describing their emotional experiences.
USC researchers have developed a new technique using real-time MRI to capture the intricacies of human speech. The innovation allows for high-resolution movies of the vocal system, enabling better understanding of sound overlap in spoken language.
The new centre will combine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) to study brain processes involved in everyday mental tasks. Research at the centre may lead to improved treatments for conditions like strokes, multiple sclerosis, and schizophrenia.
Researchers found that musicians played at a tempo closer to fast music when listened to before playing, while speakers read faster or slower after hearing a recording's speaking rate. Both groups unconsciously coordinate timing to find a mutually agreeable tempo.
A University of Washington linguist and the Aleuts will begin a two-year effort to preserve the Aleut language by recording everyday conversations on audio and videotapes. The goal is to document the language, which has declined from 620 speakers in 1990 to just over 100 today.
Researchers found that infants as young as 6.5 months can recognize word boundaries by identifying sound patterns in speech. As they mature, they rely on stressed syllables to determine word ends and begin. The study provides insight into how humans acquire language.
Women tend to make greater tonal movements and use more intonation in questioning, enabling clearer differentiation between statements and types of questions. The findings suggest that women prioritize clarity and are less afraid of adopting a position of dependency in communication.
Researchers argue that English should be the primary language for space travelers due to its international significance and potential for genetic diversity. Despite this, changes in vocabulary may occur during the journey, particularly with new words being coined and old ones falling out of use.
A new $100,000 prize has been established at UC San Diego to honor human cognition pioneer David Rumelhart. The prize will recognize significant contributions in the field of human cognition and be awarded biennially.
Researchers will study the Chipewyan (or Dene Suline) language in the Cold Lake First Nations community as part of the three-year Daghida Project. The goal is to help start an immersion program for children and revive the language, which has been largely lost among younger generations.
Linguistics professor John Rickford presents evidence that black and white vernaculars in America exhibit distinct differences, even in island enclaves with frequent contact. He argues that limited social interaction and powerful social norms contribute to these divergences, which have been developing over centuries.
Researchers at Emory University's Center for Clinical Evaluation Sciences are developing a model to help health professionals appreciate population-based research and its value in answering questions about patient care. The center is designing an intensive one-week workshop for clinicians, set to launch in Spring 1998.
A new computer program developed at the University of Rochester enables users to have natural conversations with computers. The program, Phenelope DuJour, uses intention recognition to understand user intent and respond accordingly, improving the efficiency of human-computer interactions.
Digital speech analysis tests can quantify signs of intoxication, such as jumpy pitch and energy changes. The test, developed by Georgia Tech researcher Kathleen E. Cummings, analyzes vocal cord movements during speech production.