General linguistics is the general study of the structure of languages and linguistic communication. Our research has a main focus on linguistic diversity and psycho- and neurolinguistics.
Research on linguistic diversity includes
- typological comparisons of linguistic phenomena (eg a type of construction or a particular semantic domain) within representative samples of the world’s languages
- language documentation, ie typologically correct descriptions of minor and endangered languages
- research on language contact and language changes that examines how languages develop over time and how different languages are affected by being in long-term contact with each other.
Within the process perspective of psycholinguistics, it is the human language processing that is highlighted. Brain imaging and models of language in the brain are often used in this research, which is why it is also known as neurolinguistics. Here is also a focus on studying conversation – a new horizon in psycho- and neurolinguistics, that previously mainly has examined the language processing of individual words or sentences.
Read more about our various research projects further down the page.
Section representative
Maria Koptjevskaja Tamm
tamm@ling.su.se