Articles tagged with Applied Linguistics
A new study by Lancaster University found that the final vowel in words like 'happy' varies clearly by social class across Manchester. Middle-class speakers tend to use a more closed 'ee' sound, while working-class speakers use a more open 'eh' sound.
A study published in PLOS One found that AI-generated impersonations of political debaters were rated as more authentic and relevant by the public than their actual responses. This raises concerns about the potential for targeted misinformation campaigns against specific public figures.
A new study reveals that human language is systematically biased toward safety, overturning a cornerstone assumption in psychology and linguistics. The researchers identified three independent dimensions: power, danger, and structure, which explain over 90% of the variance in meaning.
A global study finds that regions with long-term isolation exhibit greater linguistic diversity despite lower genetic diversity. This dynamic helps preserve a wider range of language structures and grammar organization.
The QSEK project aims to develop general standards for the legally sound use of language-mediated evidence, provide targeted training, and support technological innovation. This will enhance investigative efficiency, reduce misinterpretation risk, and strengthen the reliability of forensic evidence.
A recent study from Lancaster University reveals that AI systems like ChatGPT can learn to mirror human impoliteness, potentially escalating into verbal violence. The research tested ChatGPT's ability to respond to real-life impolite interactions, finding it often produces more impolite behavior than humans.
Philosopher Dr Kirill Chepurin wins the award for his monograph on Schelling's concept of 'bliss', while art historian Dr Elisabeth Ansel receives the award for her essay on J.M.W. Turner and Carl Gustav Carus' visual translation processes.
A new study using Victorian recordings from Lancaster University's archive found strong links between industrial growth and accent evolution in northern England. The Barrow-in-Furness accent developed due to intense population change and mixing, leading to distinct social histories and settlement patterns.
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.
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.
The UK's special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system is facing a worsening crisis, with schools lacking skills and resources to support children. Experts warn that without action, the crisis will deepen, harming the economy and NHS, and perpetuating inequalities.
A new study explores how teacher educators provide feedback to guide teacher learning, highlighting the importance of
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 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.
A new study by psychologists, linguists, and policy experts reveals that policymakers and drinkers have different ways of framing alcohol consumption. The findings suggest that policies must reflect real-life behaviours and motivations to make a meaningful difference.
A new study by Lancaster University reveals that language in job ads can unintentionally reinforce or disrupt labour force gender/racial composition. Workforces with more women tend to use family-friendly policies in ads, while racial minority workers' ads lack impact, the research shows.
A new study found that speech sounds have texture and shape to them, with R sounds associated with roughness and L sounds with smoothness. The research showed strong tendencies for matching trilled R sounds with jagged lines and L sounds with straight lines across cultures.
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.
Researchers found that direct eye contact via webcam improves interviewee favorability and reduces biases. The study suggests using 'mutual gaze' can establish trustworthiness and credibility with evaluators.
Researchers at Lancaster University find that the 'r' sound is becoming weaker in England, with most young speakers softening it to an elongation of the vowel. This decline is predicted to continue, potentially erasing traditional dialects and linguistic homogenization.
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.
Researchers expand simple view of reading framework using meta-analytic structural equation modeling, validating its effectiveness for SFL learners. Decoding skills and language comprehension skills are identified as primary components for effective SFL reading instruction.
A study by Pusan National University researcher Eunseok Ro examines the shift in instruction-giving practices for a book club conducted via video conference. As the facilitator adapts to the new virtual environment, she gradually changes her approach, adopting more recipient-designed and diversified instruction delivery.
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.