Linguistics

Said and Done for September 2012Digest of MIT humanities, arts, and social sciences.

The complexities of cognitive comparisonsIn experiments, linguists examine how we make everyday judgments about groups of objects.

MIT Professor Shigeru Miyagawa named award recipient by the OCW ConsortiumProfessor Miyagawa recognized with other leaders of the global OpenCourseWare movement.

Unique languages, universal patternsMIT linguist reveals how modern English resembles Old Japanese, and other surprising convergences between far-flung tongues.

MIT Libraries receive papers of distinguished linguist, philosopher and activist Noam ChomskySignificant collection spans a long and distinguished career dating to 1955.

The group that built the fieldScientific reunion commemorates 50 years of Linguistics at MIT

The advantage of ambiguityCognitive scientists develop a new take on an old problem: why human language has so many words with multiple meanings.

Joseph Aoun PhD ’82, president of Northeastern University, receives Muh Alumni AwardBiennial award honors MIT alumni achievements in humanities, arts and social sciences.

In the World: Murmurs of MayanMIT undergraduate travels to Mexico in hopes of documenting and preserving ancient linguistic phenomena — and the culture behind them.

Democracy inactionIn ‘Ideas Matter’ lecture, Noam Chomsky criticizes fellow intellectuals for their conformity.

Said and DoneHumanities, arts and social sciences digest for July/August 2011.

A champion of CreoleLinguist Michel DeGraff is on a quest to give Haitian Creole its due as a respected language — and to help Haitian schoolchildren learn in their native tongue.

Of minds and machinesFinal installment of MIT’s 150th anniversary symposia explores intelligence — both human and artificial.

Looking beyond EnglishMIT professor uses linguistics in an ESL classroom to teach scientific principles, empower a new generation of critical thinkers.

Martin Hackl's Experimental Syntax and Semantics Lab generates knowledge about meaning formationRole of linguistic form stronger than previously realized.

Wordly wisdomWhat determines the length of words? MIT researchers say they know.

Ask a linguist: Q&A with David PesetskyProfessor, AAAS fellow discusses 'Universal Grammar,' relationship between language and music

6 from MIT named AAAS fellows

Said and DoneHumanities, arts, and social sciences digest for July 2010

Emeritus: Sound reasoningMIT emeritus linguist Morris Halle sees his influence live on — and take some unexpected directions

Noam Chomsky denied entry to West Bank

Said and DoneHumanities, Arts, and Social Sciences digest for April 2010

Rebuilding HaitiMIT scholars with ties to Haiti discuss the country's future

Three of a kindMIT linguist Shigeru Miyagawa explains how the hidden similarities of English, Japanese, and some forms of Bantu reveal language’s universal essence.

Philosopher’s Annual 'ten best' selection for von Fintel and Rayo

MIT-led team finds language without numbersAmazonian tribe has no word to express 'one,' other numbers

MIT: No easy answers in evolution of human language

Predicting the future of the past tenseMathematicians apply evolutionary models to language