Project description
How complexity impacts human language
Linguistic theory presents a paradox: noun inflexions suggest plurals are more complex, yet the way singulars pragmatically compete with plurals to create meaning (e.g. implying "exactly one") suggests the opposite. This reveals that different levels of complexity influence pronunciation and meaning. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the COMPLANG project aims to develop a unified theory by investigating morphological complexity across languages, focusing on case, pronouns and numbers. It will refine the theory of pragmatic alternatives to understand meaning competition better and integrate these insights into a model of how grammatical components access different levels of morphosyntactic structure. The project’s goal is to deepen our understanding of the human language faculty and to advance natural language processing technologies.
Objective
"This project addresses a fundamental paradox in linguistic theory: different components of grammar appear to rely on conflicting notions of structural complexity. For instance, the way nouns are inflected for number (e.g. singular/plural) suggests that plural forms are more complex than singular ones. However, the way these forms pragmatically compete to create meaning (e.g. implying ""exactly one"") suggests the opposite. This indicates that the processes governing pronunciation (morphological spell-out) and meaning (pragmatic competition) are sensitive to different types of complexity.
The project's main objective is to resolve this paradox by developing a more nuanced, unified theory of linguistic complexity. This will be achieved through three steps. First, we will conduct a large-scale, cross-linguistic investigation to map the notion of complexity relevant to morphological spell-out, expanding beyond number to phenomena like case and pronouns. Second, we will critically examine and refine the theory of pragmatic alternatives to map the notion of complexity relevant to meaning competition. Finally, we will synthesize these findings into a single, coherent formal model that explains how different grammatical components access different levels of morphosyntactic structure.
This research will significantly advance our understanding of the architecture of the human language faculty. By providing a more precise model of the interface between syntax, phonology, and semantics, the project will make key contributions to linguistic theory. In the long term, these fundamental insights can inform the development of more sophisticated and human-like language technologies in fields such as Natural Language Processing. The combined expertise of the applicant and the supervisor is highly suitable for the project: the applicant has a rich background in semantic competition, while the supervisor is a world-renowned expert on the internal structure of words."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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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.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
601 77 Brno
Czechia
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.