Are some languages better than others? It is important for the Australian community - speaking several hundred different indigenous and immigrant languages across the nation - to realise that each language has approximately (but not precisely) the same overall complexity as every other. One may have intricate word structure, while another has short words but elaborate rules for putting words together to make sentences. And, striding above 'political correctness', many people in Australia will be ....Are some languages better than others? It is important for the Australian community - speaking several hundred different indigenous and immigrant languages across the nation - to realise that each language has approximately (but not precisely) the same overall complexity as every other. One may have intricate word structure, while another has short words but elaborate rules for putting words together to make sentences. And, striding above 'political correctness', many people in Australia will be interested to know whether a certain language is a little more efficient than certain other languages for a particular purpose (for example, commercial business). Read moreRead less
Basic Linguistic Theory. The project is to write the first comprehensive monograph on basic linguistic theory, the theoretical model which underpins almost all grammatical descriptions and most work on typological universals of language (e.g. asking whether all languages have relative clauses, and how these differ between languages). Part 1 will focus on methodology, modes of argumentation and the components of a linguistic description, while Part 2 will profile grammatical categories and const ....Basic Linguistic Theory. The project is to write the first comprehensive monograph on basic linguistic theory, the theoretical model which underpins almost all grammatical descriptions and most work on typological universals of language (e.g. asking whether all languages have relative clauses, and how these differ between languages). Part 1 will focus on methodology, modes of argumentation and the components of a linguistic description, while Part 2 will profile grammatical categories and construction types (such as negation, interrogatives, causatives). This work will constitute both a major contribution to linguistic theory and also a practical manual for pursuing linguistic description and typological generalisations concerning the nature of human language.Read moreRead less
Investigating the effectiveness of audio-graphic conferencing in real time on language acquisition at a distance. This project brings together recognised international experts in computer-mediated communication (CMC) and second language acquisition (SLA) in a large-scale investigation of the use of synchronous, internet-based conferencing using voice, text and image applications (audio-graphics) in second language acquisition. Distance learners at the British Open University and at Monash Unive ....Investigating the effectiveness of audio-graphic conferencing in real time on language acquisition at a distance. This project brings together recognised international experts in computer-mediated communication (CMC) and second language acquisition (SLA) in a large-scale investigation of the use of synchronous, internet-based conferencing using voice, text and image applications (audio-graphics) in second language acquisition. Distance learners at the British Open University and at Monash University will take part in a time-series analysis in which they are systematically involved in either traditional distance learning (text, audio, video, face-to-face) or internet-mediated audio-graphic conferencing in real time. Variables under investigation will be proficiency and language learning strategies.Read moreRead less
Thinking and talking about atolls: the role of environment in shaping language and our understanding of physical space. This project investigates the role of environment in shaping how we think about physical space. By comparing how people in the highly specialised environment of the atoll talk about space in different parts of the world we will gather new data to test ideas on the roles of language and environment in shaping how we understand the physical world.
Cross-linguistic study of endangered Maluku languages: Eastern Indonesia and the Dutch diaspora. This project represents the first large scale investigation of Eastern Indonesian languages, and assembles an international team to examine language evolution through the interface between linguistic typology, language contact and language shift. This ground-breaking work includes a cross-linguistic analysis of structural features in ten Central Moluccan languages. It will test current theories of co ....Cross-linguistic study of endangered Maluku languages: Eastern Indonesia and the Dutch diaspora. This project represents the first large scale investigation of Eastern Indonesian languages, and assembles an international team to examine language evolution through the interface between linguistic typology, language contact and language shift. This ground-breaking work includes a cross-linguistic analysis of structural features in ten Central Moluccan languages. It will test current theories of contact and shift through an innovative comparative analysis of data from speakers in the homeland and the Dutch diaspora. Outcomes will include grammars of six undescribed languages and crucial new insights about language cognition and simplification. Improved knowledge of this closely-neighbouring region will strengthen Australia's Asia-Pacific relations.Read moreRead less
Online linguistic exploration: deeper, faster, broader language documentation. This project will develop a new online mode for collaborative linguistic research. Linguists will be able to harness the power of natural language processing techniques for their study of the world's languages. A demonstration system will be developed, permitting linguists to locate examples of syntactic constructions in a large database of parsed text, and to explore similarities across different languages. The pr ....Online linguistic exploration: deeper, faster, broader language documentation. This project will develop a new online mode for collaborative linguistic research. Linguists will be able to harness the power of natural language processing techniques for their study of the world's languages. A demonstration system will be developed, permitting linguists to locate examples of syntactic constructions in a large database of parsed text, and to explore similarities across different languages. The project will also encompass a selection of minority languages for which only a small amount of data is available.Read moreRead less
Bridging the theory-practice gap in the teaching of sign languages. This project aims to improve our understanding of how to teach sign languages to adults as second and additional languages. Internationally, there is significant demand for sign language classes, but relatively little is known about the processes involved when hearing adults learn a sign language, or the similarities and differences to second language learning of spoken languages. This project aims to develop and test the effica ....Bridging the theory-practice gap in the teaching of sign languages. This project aims to improve our understanding of how to teach sign languages to adults as second and additional languages. Internationally, there is significant demand for sign language classes, but relatively little is known about the processes involved when hearing adults learn a sign language, or the similarities and differences to second language learning of spoken languages. This project aims to develop and test the efficacy of a range of innovative teaching materials and approaches, as well as create the first standardised Australian Sign Language (Auslan) test for adults. It aims to significantly improve the quality of Auslan teaching at the partner institution and provide a model of best practice internationally.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102017
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Typology of language use: quantitative investigations of discourse from endangered languages. This project investigates striking similarities in information management across under-studied, non-European languages with varying grammatical patterns. Employing an innovative quantitative methodology to the study of natural language usage, this is a foundational research project in the emergent field of text-based language typology.
Talking through touch: adapting sign languages for use by Deafblind people. This project intends to investigate tactile Australian Sign Language (Auslan), the sign language of deafblind Australians. People who are both deaf and blind are at high risk of social isolation and often have only a limited number of people with whom they can communicate fluently. Those who were born deaf and lose vision as adults often use a tactile form of sign language, but how visual sign languages are modified for ....Talking through touch: adapting sign languages for use by Deafblind people. This project intends to investigate tactile Australian Sign Language (Auslan), the sign language of deafblind Australians. People who are both deaf and blind are at high risk of social isolation and often have only a limited number of people with whom they can communicate fluently. Those who were born deaf and lose vision as adults often use a tactile form of sign language, but how visual sign languages are modified for tactile delivery is poorly understood. Drawing on conversational data from experienced tactile signers, the project will use conversation analysis to document and describe tactile Auslan. This analysis aims to inform interpreter and case worker training and to contribute to our understanding of touch as a previously underexplored language modality.Read moreRead less
Lexical typology, a new integrated approach to semantics: a reciprocal case study. This proposal will bring out Professor Leila Behrens (U. Cologne), one of the co-founders of a new approach to linguistics, Lexical Typology, which looks at how all of a language's expressive components interact, instead of just focussing on one element such as grammar or vocabulary. With the CI she will develop this theory further, with respect to the expression of reciprocal relationships in English, German, Hun ....Lexical typology, a new integrated approach to semantics: a reciprocal case study. This proposal will bring out Professor Leila Behrens (U. Cologne), one of the co-founders of a new approach to linguistics, Lexical Typology, which looks at how all of a language's expressive components interact, instead of just focussing on one element such as grammar or vocabulary. With the CI she will develop this theory further, with respect to the expression of reciprocal relationships in English, German, Hungarian, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and the Australian Aboriginal languages Kayardild, Bininj Gun-wok and Dalabon.Read moreRead less