Sign languages change, too: The evolution of SELF in American Sign Language
A new study shows that American Sign Language (ASL) is more linguistically complex than previously understood. In particular, research appearing in the June 2022 issue of the journal Language, authored by Tory Sampson (UC ...
Phys.org > linguist
Exploring how diverse social networks reduce accent judgments
Everyone has an accent. But the intelligibility of speech doesn't just depend on that accent; it also depends on the listener. Visual cues and the diversity of the listener's social network can impact their ability to understand ...
Phys.org > linguist
Discovery sheds light on why Pacific islands were colonized
The discovery of pottery from the ancient Lapita culture by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) has shed new light on how Papua New Guinea (PNG) served as a launching pad for the colonization of the Pacific—one ...
Phys.org > linguist
Researchers make Deseret Alphabet texts available for study
Two University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers are developing resources for studying the Deseret Alphabet, which was created by the Mormons and used briefly in the 19th century.
Phys.org > linguist
Searching for a grammar of materials to aid in discovery of catalysts
A research group from the Theory Department has explored the use of formal grammars as a new approach to discovering solid catalysts. Such grammars can encode the building rules of known materials and subsequently propose ...
Phys.org > linguist
Interdisciplinary research shows the spread of Transeurasian languages was due to agriculture
The origin and early dispersal of Transeurasian languages, including, among others, Japanese, Korean, Tungusic, Mongolic and Turkic, is among the most disputed issues of Asian prehistory. Although many of the commonalities ...
Phys.org > linguist
The rise of COVID 'snowclones': Linguistic phrases prompted by the pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an explosion of new words and phrases in English (for example, COVIDiot) and other languages Coronaspeck in German to describe lockdown weight gain) that have helped us make sense ...
Phys.org > linguist
Linguists predict unknown words using language comparison
For a long time, historical linguists have been using the comparative method to reconstruct earlier states of languages that are not attested in written sources. The method consists of the detailed comparison of words in ...
Phys.org > linguist
Epidemic possibly caused population collapse in Central Africa 1400-1600 years ago
A new study published in the journal Science Advances shows that Bantu-speaking communities in the Congo rainforest underwent a major population collapse from 1600 to 1400 years ago, probably due to a prolonged disease epidemic, ...
Phys.org > linguist
Pace of prehistoric human innovation could be revealed by 'linguistic thermometer'
Multi-disciplinary researchers at The University of Manchester have helped develop a powerful physics-based tool to map the pace of language development and human innovation over thousands of years—even stretching into ...
Phys.org > linguist
A textual analysis of Trump's language shows shifts in the weeks leading up to the Capitol riot
On Jan. 6, the world witnessed how language can incite violence.
Phys.org > linguist
No laughing matter: A study on teaching linguistics
A new study involving a scientific analysis of the prevalence of "LOL" in students' text messages demonstrates important potential applications for classroom learning. The study, "Linguistics in General Education: Expanding ...
Phys.org > linguist