Articles tagged with Linguistics
A study led by Waseda University's Associate Professor Chie Nakamura investigated how listeners interpret structurally ambiguous sentences using eye-tracking technology. The researchers found that listeners actively build sentence structure in real-time, predicting how the sentence will continue before all information is available.
Cognitive neuroscientists are integrating genetics and AI to study language development and disorders. AI-based models can predict language development in children, while genetics research links rhythm disorders and dyslexia. The brain's wiring connecting language regions also reveals that language is a system, not a single 'thing'.
Researcher Dr. Julia Jennifer Beine uncovers forgotten translator Ljuba Metzl of the Salzburg Festival play Cenodoxus, shedding new light on her story. Metzl's translation is now lost, but her biography reveals a talented young philologist who was overlooked by history.
Researchers Judith Holler and Anna K. Kuhlen argue that conversation is not a linear exchange of words, but rather a jointly managed activity in which meaning emerges through coordination. Visual signals like gestures and facial expressions play a crucial role in composing and comprehending meaning.
The Centre for Computational Social Science and Humanities (CSSH) at NUS combines computational methods with social science and humanities to better understand complex social phenomena and develop solutions. CSSH aims to generate research that improves lives, strengthens institutions, and shapes more inclusive societies.
Researchers found that Palaeolithic sign sequences are statistically comparable to the earliest proto-cuneiform script, dating back 40,000 years. The analysis of over 3,000 geometric signs on 260 objects revealed complex and informative systems used by early humans to convey information.
Researchers found that brain synchrony between mothers and children is equally strong when playing in the native language or an acquired second language. This suggests that multilingualism can support healthy communication and learning without disrupting the brain-to-brain connection.
Researchers at PolyU have discovered that combining music and empathetic speech in robots can foster a stronger bond between humans and machines. Music enhances the emotional resonance of on-screen robots, making interactions feel more real, but its impact diminishes over time.
Researchers discovered a significant decline in language complexity in Pratchett's writing, particularly in 'The Lost Continent', indicating potential early warning signs of dementia. This study aims to aid in the early detection and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding the Specialized Information Service (FID) Jewish Studies for another three years, strengthening research infrastructure. The FID provides tailored information services to researchers in Jewish history, culture, and Israel studies.
Researchers found that using words with clear opposites can shape people's sense of certainty when evaluating messages. This means that certain wording types can make messages less effective among skeptics, while boosting confidence among believers.
Researchers are working on a £3.5 million UK-Japan project to develop human-centred artificial intelligence for sign language translation, focusing on natural conversational Deaf data rather than interpreted signing.
New study finds psychosis delusions emerge from emotional experiences, bodily reactions, and linguistic fabric. Participants described intense emotional embodiment and disembodiment, with some experiencing positive feelings of awe and love.
A new study from the University of East Anglia finds that AI tools excel at speed and clarity, but human translators remain crucial for tone, cultural nuance, and natural sound. Generative AI can handle parts of video translation, but consumers still notice when something feels off.
The study demonstrates the auditory cortex's ability to integrate fine-scale and coarse-scale temporal cues during synchronization, with better performance in macaques compared to the middle glandular body. The nonlinguistic oddball paradigm shows promise for clinical applications in psychiatric disorders and future research should exp...
Deaf women in Scotland face significant barriers to accessing support and safety due to the lack of specialist services. The Sign LOUD report calls for a national BSL Equally Safe Advisory Group to improve response and dedicated long-term funding for Deaf-friendly domestic abuse services.
Research found that slang words appear in nearly 20% of social media posts, with varying effects on consumer engagement. Effective use of slang depends on the brand's personality and consumer expectations.
The study revealed that phonological processing skills continue to impact text reading fluency in adolescents, with better phoneme operation leading to faster coherent text reading. Attitude towards reading also played a significant role, with emotional involvement being crucial for reading skill development.
A new study by Waseda University researchers explores the role of morphological processing in L2 French ambiguity, finding that it plays a significant role in causing speech errors. The study suggests that educators should integrate pronunciation and vocabulary exercises more holistically to help learners overcome hidden ambiguities.
A new study by linguist Theresa Matzinger found that the sound quality of words influences how beautiful they are perceived to be and how easily they can be learned. Researchers tested artificial pseudowords with no meaning and found that words with pleasing sounds were also more memorable.
Researchers found that words with phonetically pleasing sound patterns are more memorable due to their aesthetic appeal. The study was supported by a grant from the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Austrian Science Fund.
The German Research Foundation has granted funding for two new Collaborative Research Centres at the University of Konstanz, exploring cellular trigger responses and language signal interference. Researchers aim to unravel molecular mechanisms behind cell perception and processing, and develop innovative tools for biotechnological appl...
The German Research Foundation extends TRR 318 'Constructing Explainability' for a further three and a half years, focusing on context within explanations to develop more comprehensible AI systems. The collaboration involves over 60 researchers across seven disciplines, aiming to create social forms of explainable AI.
Large language models systematically rate speakers of German dialects less favorably than those using Standard German, associating dialects with negative traits. The bias grows when dialects are explicitly mentioned, and larger models display even stronger biases.
The second funding phase of Priority Program ViCom aims to advance new linguistic and cognitive models describing visual communication. Researchers will focus on developing theories, systematizing findings, and supporting early-career researchers, fostering international collaboration.
The study analyzed eye movement data to predict processing effort and found that word and sentence length are effective predictors of text readability among English learners. This approach provides valuable insights for selecting reading materials and developing reading tests.
Street art in Kaunas, Lithuania acts as a form of cultural activism and collective memory, blending languages, images, and historical narratives. Murals have become powerful tools for community reflection and dialogue, turning public space into a living archive of cultural identity.
A study by MIT researchers found that design elements of data visualizations influence viewers' assumptions about the source of the information and its trustworthiness. Readers make these assessments primarily from design features like color palette or arrangement, rather than underlying data, often unintentionally by designers.
University of Missouri researchers are helping farmers prevent disease outbreaks by teaching biosecurity practices, such as hand sanitizing and wearing farm-dedicated shoes. They also provide guidance on safe composting methods to dispose of dead livestock, reducing the risk of disease spread.
A new study published in JNeurosci used fMRI to investigate how the brain acquires semantic information. The results suggest that the quality of activity in distinct brain regions can predict whether people successfully acquire knowledge about places and characters in fictional civilizations.
A study published in a book by Professor Florian Stöckel and colleagues found that social media comments can act as signals for true or false information, helping users identify accurate news. However, these comments can also be misleading and undermine trust in correct information.
Researchers found over 20 bird species across four continents produce nearly identical whining calls when spotting parasites, suggesting a shared learned response.
The new book examines language attrition in non-pathological settings, considering social, lexical, and grammatical constraints. Researchers aim to develop a multifaceted approach to combating language loss, improving pedagogy and promoting bilingualism.
A team of researchers analyzed Taylor Swift's recorded interviews to study her dialect changes across different eras of her career. They found that she adopted features of the Southern accent when living in Nashville and lowered her voice pitch when moving to New York City, which may have been a strategic move to project authority.
Researchers developed a new tool to measure language learning strategies of Japanese university STEM students. The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning-STEM (SILL-JP/STEM) assesses six categories of learning strategies, revealing insights into students' behaviors, including underutilized affective strategies.
A study by University of Birmingham researchers found that corporate net-zero pledges often lack the substance needed to drive real change. Many companies use vague language and focus on direct emissions, omitting substantial indirect emissions generated by their products.
Researchers Marie Teich and Wilmer Leal develop a formal framework to analyze metaphors, confirming they are enduring linguistic and cognitive structures. The study reveals two significant metaphorical processes: mappings from concrete to abstract topics and the emergence of new mappings between domains.
Researchers found that humans across cultures and languages break their speech into Intonation Units, which follow a low-frequency rhythm of 1.6 seconds. This universal structure plays a critical role in helping listeners follow conversations and absorb information.
A study analyzing over 7.9 million US Congressional speeches from 1873 to 2010 found that speakers of all ages contribute to linguistic changes, with older speakers adopting new words and meanings over time. The researchers used AI models to track word usage patterns and found shifts in meaning across decades.
Researchers found that twangy female voices were understood more than neutral voices when surrounded by noise. This is due to the higher-pitched nature of twangy speech, which gives it a perceived loudness and reduces masking by low-frequency sounds.
Researchers found that preterm infants scored lower on both language comprehension and expression compared to full-term peers. The earlier the birth and lower the birth weight, the weaker the child's performance in language comprehension.
A new study from the University of Notre Dame found that how healthcare providers describe babies during ultrasounds impacts parent perceptions and can influence a child's future behavior. Positive descriptions are associated with fewer behavioral difficulties in toddlers, while negative descriptions lead to greater challenges.
Researchers found that LLMs are better at representing non-sensorimotor concepts but struggle with sensory and motor concepts. Incorporating sensory input improves LLM performance and leads to more human-like representation, consistent with previous human studies on multimodal learning.
A new study by Waseda University researchers suggests that learners need to automatize word meanings in context to achieve fluent speech. By assessing automatized vocabulary knowledge (AVK) and declarative vocabulary knowledge (DVK), the team found AVK to be a stronger predictor of L2 speaking fluency.
A study published in Nature Communications Psychology reveals that the brain sequences and manages words differently depending on sentence structure. The prefrontal cortex sustains words throughout complex sentences, suggesting a need for additional working memory resources.
Researchers analyzed over 4,000 examples of Russian spoken by bilinguals, finding that non-standard numeral constructions are influenced by native languages and frequency of use. Less familiar expressions involving numbers two to four were used in non-standard forms more frequently.
Researchers analyzed existing studies on infant-directed speech and found that adults exaggerate vowel sounds in speech directed to babies in at least 10 languages. The study suggests that mothers hyperarticulate vowels to facilitate word learning, but methodological differences make it difficult to generalize findings across languages.
Researchers developed an algorithm that achieves high levels of both accuracy and fairness in detecting toxic speech on social media. The approach uses a fairness measurement called Group Accuracy Parity (GAP) to find desirable combinations of accuracy and fairness for specific situations.
A new study combines ancient DNA with dietary evidence and linguistics to paint a vivid picture of pre-colonial coastal communities in Papua New Guinea. The research highlights the influence of migrations and interactions on genetic makeup, supporting previous studies on the settlement of remote islands.
Researchers developed a novel approach to automated spoken English assessment integrating acoustic, turn-taking, linguistic, and visual components. The multioutput learning framework achieved an accuracy of approximately 83% in predicting SEE scores.
Seven Clusters of Excellence at LMU Munich have been approved for funding, covering a broad range of fields from systems neurology to quantum science. The successful clusters reflect the university's exceptional commitment and cooperation with partners.
The Konstanz Cluster of Excellence 'The Politics of Inequality' will continue to investigate the political causes and consequences of growing inequality in society. Researchers aim to prevent self-reinforcing processes and reduce structural inequalities.
Researchers built a data pipeline to train AI tools for childhood speech screening, addressing the lack of representative datasets. The resulting high-quality dataset enables faster and more accurate diagnoses, especially in areas with limited access to specialists.
Researchers found that wild chimpanzees use compositional and non-compositional call combinations to create new meanings, similar to human language. This suggests a highly generative vocal communication system in chimpanzees, challenging previous views on the evolution of language.
A Dartmouth team's AI model recognized Navajo with near-perfect accuracy, identifying related languages such as Apache and Native Alaskan languages. The study suggests that this technology could be a bridge to including smaller languages in online translation services.
Researchers at PolyU developed an AI-driven assessment system, LMLPA, to quantify LLM personality traits. The system analyzes linguistic patterns and style in LLM outputs to evaluate their personalities, with applications in education, manufacturing, business, and sustainable development.
A study analyzing nearly 1,000 Syriac manuscripts finds that scribes played a key role in organizing knowledge, adapting texts for new purposes, and shaping Syriac literary culture. The research introduces a new metric, Excerpts Per Manuscript (EPM), to quantify how frequently non-authorial agents engaged in excerpting.
The Golden Light Sutra, a 1,000-year-old Chinese translation of a Buddhist scripture, is now freely accessible online via Kyushu University Library's digital archive. The collection offers valuable resources for studying the history of Japanese language and literature.
A new project aims to analyze the hidden mechanisms of energy transition models, determining which narrative patterns are included and finding ways to make them more transparent and inclusive. By simulating future energy systems in real-world labs, researchers hope to remove uncertainties and mistrust surrounding the energy transition.
Researchers at Lancaster University discovered a new type of vaccine-specific scepticism, where some people perceive COVID-19 vaccines as 'not a vaccine' compared to MMR. This phenomenon may also apply to the flu vaccine, highlighting the need for clear public health messaging.