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New study: Despite global linguistic diversity, grammar often shares similar structures

A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that around one third of proposed grammatical universals are consistently observed across all languages. The research team used complex statistical methods to analyze a large database of grammatical features and identified recurring patterns in language structures.

SourceSaarland University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 9, 2025
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Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Beyond words: the cognitive force of metaphor

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.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPLOS Complex Systems·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 27, 2025

Beyond words

Researchers analyzed massive audio recordings to create a dictionary of short melodies in English-language prosody, assigning functions and meanings. They discovered hundreds of basic patterns with linguistic functions, including conveying attitudes such as curiosity or surprise, and identified syntactic rules governing their order.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 22, 2025

Rethinking English essay scores: The argument for argument over grammar

A Kobe University study finds that high-scoring essays prioritize complex meaning and diverse expressions, not grammatical complexity. The researcher advocates for a shift in test scoring rubrics to reflect this, suggesting 'contextually appropriate grammar' should be used instead of 'complex grammar'.

SourceKobe University·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 18, 2024

MSU research: What makes a good headline?

According to MSU research, linguistically simple headlines engage readers more than complex ones. The study found that simplicity impacts how often people click on stories, leading to increased demand for good journalism. By writing simply, news organizations can make their content more approachable and accessible to a wider audience.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 5, 2024
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Q&A: UW research shows neural connection between learning a second language and learning to code

The study reveals that experienced programmers exhibit brain responses similar to those of fluent readers processing sentences, indicating a strong resemblance between learning computer and natural languages. The research suggests that understanding how people learn to code can be informed by expertise in second-language learning.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 23, 2024

How cognition changes before dementia hits

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.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Neurolinguistics·DateFeb 29, 2024
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Study examines role of working memory, cognitive functions in English learners learning to write

Researchers found that working memory was the most significant predictor of writing ability among English learner students. Cognitive functions such as phonological awareness and oral language development were also important, but only working memory consistently predicted higher scores in writing.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalJournal of Experimental Child Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 17, 2023

Have you heard about the “whom of which” trend?

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.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalGlossa a journal of general linguistics·DateSep 27, 2023

The evolution of complex grammars

Researchers found that languages with larger populations of non-native speakers do not simplify their grammars. Instead, variations in complexity accumulate too slowly to adapt to the environment. This challenges long-held theories on the relationship between language complexity and social factors.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 16, 2023
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Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

EMBARGOED: Two brain networks are activated while reading, study finds

Researchers at UTHealth Houston identified two brain networks involved in reading, working together to integrate word meanings. The study used electroencephalography recordings from patients with epilepsy to measure neural activity while reading complex sentences.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 17, 2023

Online hate speech is often hidden in plain sight

A new study reveals that online hate speech is frequently conveyed through subtle and modified wording, allowing it to evade detection. Covert methods of expression are being used by haters to avoid detection, highlighting the need for increased attention to implied ways of expressing hate.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalJournal of Pragmatics·DateFeb 2, 2023
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

AI that can learn patterns of human language

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.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 11, 2022
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Persistent gender bias found in scientific research and related course materials: A long-term linguistic analysis

Two studies published in Language reveal persistent gender bias in both peer-reviewed journal articles and course materials used in linguistics. Linguistics textbooks exhibit male-gendered protagonists more often, while research articles show stereotypes about men and women, with non-binary identities absent.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 6, 2021

Perceptual links between sound and shape may unlock origins of spoken words

Researchers discovered that the majority of people worldwide exhibit the 'bouba/kiki effect', matching sounds with shapes, regardless of language or writing system. This finding suggests that iconic vocalisations may form a global basis for creating new words.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateNov 17, 2021

Great Scots! 'It's' a unique linguistic phenomenon

Researchers found that Scots dialects allow for specific types of contractions, such as 'Here it's!' or 'There it's!', which shed light on speakers' understanding of language structure. These patterns suggest that speakers have an unconscious knowledge of grammatical differences between sentences.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·DateAug 8, 2019

Repeating non-verbs as well as verbs can boost the syntactic priming effect

Researchers at National Research University Higher School of Economics found that repetition of nouns and verbs can enhance the syntactic priming effect. The study shows that repetition of any content word in a sentence boosts syntactic priming, with more repeated words resulting in stronger effects.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalJournal of Memory and Language·DateApr 17, 2017
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Male mice model human speech defect

Researchers at Duke University found that male mice carrying a genetic mutation known to affect human speech struggle with sequencing phonemes into words. The study used new statistical tools to analyze the structure of ultrasonic mouse songs, revealing a similar impact on sequence complexity as seen in humans.

SourceDuke University·JournalFrontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·DateOct 20, 2016

Syntax is not unique to human language

Researchers found that Japanese great tits use specific rules to combine calls and convey compound messages, demonstrating non-human syntax. The study suggests that syntax may be a general adaptation to social complexity in communication systems.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 8, 2016

Bird communication: Chirping with syntax

Researchers discovered Japanese great tits have developed syntactic rules, combining calls like 'ABC' and 'D' to convey specific meanings. These birds use these rules to deter predators and attract partners, demonstrating a complex form of communication.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 8, 2016

The rapid rise of human language

Human language likely developed quickly into a sophisticated system, featuring syntax and structures, according to MIT linguist Shigeru Miyagawa. Words bear traces of syntax, challenging the idea that they originated from simple primal utterances.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateMar 31, 2015
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

ESC/EACTS revascularization guidelines stress benefit of revascularization in stable CAD

The 2014 ESC/EACTS revascularisation guidelines emphasize the therapeutic benefit of revascularisation in coronary artery disease (CAD) for patients with stable CAD. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) reduces the risk of death, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularisation compared to medical treatment. DES are favored over b...

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·DateAug 30, 2014

Brain signals link physical fitness to better language skills in kids

Children who are physically fit have faster and more robust neuro-electrical brain responses during reading, corresponding to better language skills. The study found higher amplitude N400 and P600 waves in fitter children, suggesting they processed information more quickly and efficiently.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalBrain and Cognition·DateJun 3, 2014

Steganography is no laughing matter

A new method called Jokestega uses automatic joke generation to hide secret messages in plain text documents, avoiding grammar disruptions. The technique takes advantage of recent software that can create pun-type jokes, allowing for efficient and humorous message concealment.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Security and Networks·DateMar 12, 2013
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Be it numbers or words -- the structure of our language remains the same

Researchers found that syntax rules, which govern word order in language, also apply to mathematical equations and may be universally applicable. The study used structural priming, a cognitive process where past structures influence future ones, to demonstrate this connection.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateJun 6, 2011

The mind uses syntax to interpret actions

A new study published in Psychological Science found that people can understand actions by recognizing underlying syntax. The researchers tested whether the structure of action sequences affected how quickly participants read sentences describing those actions.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateNov 4, 2010

Predicting what they say

A study published in Language reveals that people are remarkably accurate in predicting the syntax of others' speech, thanks to their knowledge of linguistic probability. This skill has significant applications for educators, entrepreneurs and those working with individuals with language disorders.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·DateMar 29, 2010
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.