Project description
Identity from linguistic communication model
Our personal and social identities are built under the process of our social maturing. As such, we need to acknowledge the important role of the language for how we perceive ourselves as a person and as a member of the society. However, social sciences must yet analyse and characterise this specific process. The EU-funded SMIC project will build a theory of the identity construction process based on mathematic explications, computationally applied, driven by linguistic communication model. Using recent developments from formal pragmatics in modelling linguistic communication field, mathematic and computational new tools for the research on linguistic meaning in context, the project will fill an important gap in social and cognitive studies.
Objective
One of the most powerful ideas of the past quarter century is that our personal and social identities and their various components (gender, age, class etc.) are not natural properties, but are socially constructed through the combination of our actions and others' interpretations of them. Research in sociolinguistics has shown that language is critical to this process, and our interlocutors take into account not only what we say but also how we say it. For example, studies have shown that speakers using colloquial expressions (like pronouncing the word 'drinking' as drinkin') are perceived to be friendlier than speakers saying the same thing using more formal expressions (i.e. saying drinking). On the other hand, the latter are often perceived to be more competent than those using colloquial language.
Although identity construction through language is a fundamental notion in the humanities and social sciences, we do not yet have a precise characterization of the cognitive processes involved. As a result, these influential ideas have remained isolated from work in cognitive science, computer science and artificial intelligence. The goal of SMIC is therefore to construct a mathematically explicit, computationally implemented theory of the identity construction process based on the hypothesis that identity construction is very similar to other kinds of linguistic communication, i.e. hearing drinkin' and thinking that the speaker is friendly is the same basic cognitive process as hearing drinkin' and thinking about imbibing liquid. Modeling linguistic communication is a central concern of formal pragmatics, and recent developments in this field have created exciting new experimental, mathematical and computational tools for studying linguistic meaning in context. SMIC aims to take advantage of these developments to build the model, and, in doing so, unite diverse lines of research across the social, cognitive and information sciences.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75794 PARIS
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.