Project description
First formal predictive model of disjunction variation across languages
How do languages express alternatives such as 'John or Mary'? In English, the word 'or' covers many uses, but other languages often use different forms depending on whether the speaker is uncertain, the options are exhaustive, or the sentence is a question. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the VODIS project will investigate how languages around the world express alternatives. The project will create the first open database of disjunction markers, develop a model explaining why these patterns vary, and test its predictions through psycholinguistic experiments. VODIS will advance linguistic theory, support language documentation, and may help multilingual AI systems interpret meaning more accurately.
Objective
Understanding how languages encode disjunction sheds light on fundamental aspects of human reasoning and communication. Across languages, disjunction is expressed by diverse and specialized constructions with distributions that differ from the uniform “or” in English. Yet the field lacks a systematic cross-linguistic description of this diversity and a formal model that explains it. VODIS addresses that gap by (i) building the first open cross-linguistic database that documents the forms and distributions of disjunction markers across genealogically and geographically diverse languages, (ii) developing a unified formal semantic model that predicts this variation, and (iii) empirically testing its predictions in psycholinguistic experiments. Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) provides the ideal setting: it integrates strengths in formal semantics, psycholinguistics, and typology. The fellowship, under the supervision of Prof. Jacopo Romoli, will offer direct training and equip the fellow with the methodological breadth needed to become an independent cross-disciplinary researcher. VODIS will advance linguistic theory, support language documentation, promote awareness of linguistic diversity, and potentially enhance multilingual natural language processing systems that rely on precise meaning representations.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- humanities languages and literature linguistics
- natural sciences computer and information sciences databases
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science natural language processing
- natural sciences computer and information sciences knowledge engineering
- social sciences psychology psycholinguistics
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
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.
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.
40225 Dusseldorf
Germany
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.