Project description
Mapping how languages express generalisations across cultures
Human languages vary widely in how they express generalisations about the world such as ‘Tigers have stripes’. While typically true, most scientific backing of these generic statements is based on a small number of well-studied languages. As such, they may also convey stereotypes or culturally shaped knowledge. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the GENIE project is developing a research toolkit based on generic sentences and applies it in fieldwork across 28 languages, including endangered and under-documented languages, and a sign language. The goal is to build a database and identify potential language universals. Overall, it will deepen theoretical understanding of how humans express general knowledge across cultures and languages.
Objective
All languages are thought to have ways to express generalisations, like ‘Tigers have stripes’ or ‘Birds fly’. Such expressions, termed ‘generics’, are generally true yet allow for exceptions. They enable communication about the world beyond immediate experiences and are used to convey characteristic or striking properties (‘Sharks attack people’), and/or to express knowledge about the world including stereotypes, and prejudices (e.g. ‘Lawyers are greedy’). While central to theories across the cognitive sciences, generics have only been well-explored in English and a few closely related languages, significantly limiting current understanding and future research on generalisations. This project addresses the lack of a wide-ranging typological investigation on generics by systematically examining their different forms across a representative sample of human languages.
In this interdisciplinary project combining insights from formal linguistics, semantic fieldwork, psychology and psycholinguistics, I will develop and use a toolkit (in the form of storyboards including generic sentences) to collect data on generics in 28 languages, including vulnerable and endangered languages such as Macushi, Nez Perce, Tlingit and Catalan Sign Language via collaboration with expert linguists and native speakers, part of an established network.
The research objectives are (a) to develop a systematic in-depth toolkit and an administration handbook to study generics, (b) to administer the toolkit in 28 languages (16 language families, 2 isolates and 1 sign language), (c) to make the toolkit and handbook available and create an accessible database of the collected data and (d) to address language universals about generics and their theoretical implications.
Upon successful completion, my creative and innovative potential will be enhanced and I will have acquired new skills through advanced training and international mobility benefiting the knowledge-based economy the EU is pursuing.
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.
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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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)
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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)
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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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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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10117 Berlin
Germany
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