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Languages are fundamental to everything humans do. We learn them as babies and for some of us that doesn’t mean learning to speak, many of us learn several languages, and we are increasingly using them to talk to technological devices. So how are languages learned in the first place?
In this event, we will answer this from different angles. Researchers talk about studying language learning in their everyday work. You will leave with a host of new information, and you might even feel inspired to pay more attention to the rich diversity of language use that is happening around us every day.
In this event, we will answer this from different angles. Researchers talk about studying language learning in their everyday work. You will leave with a host of new information, and you might even feel inspired to pay more attention to the rich diversity of language use that is happening around us every day.
Nonspeaking Autism Has a Lot To Say!
Ileana Grama (UvA)
(My work is on understanding language profiles in Autism, and more broadly on Neurodiversity and inclusivity. I'm interested in Participatory Action Research, regenerative education, and in my free time I'm interested in nice weather, park benches, good books and picnics with my kids.)
In this talk I illuminate one of the most misunderstood communities in society: nonspeaking autistics. I highlight the potential for language and multimodal communication inherent in people who have been wrongly accused of being incommunicative and disinterested in language. And I explain why research WITH (instead of just ABOUT) marginalized communities is crucial to good science!
How are sign languages learned?
Jos Ritmeester (UvA)
(Her research focuses on hearing parents of deaf children and how we can support these parents in learning sign language. Two fun facts about me: I have never had a headache and I used to play table tennis on a national level!)
Ever wondered how learning a sign language is different from learning a spoken one? Or if learning sign language is difficult? During this talk we will answer these questions and explore how sign languages are learned. We will also discuss some common misconceptions (spoiler: no, sign language is not universal!), and take a closer look at what makes learning a visual language unique. For some, learning a sign language is a fun and exciting challenge. But for others, it’s not optional; it’s essential. We’ll dive into the learning experiences of two groups for whom sign language is crucial: deaf children, and hearing parents learning to communicate with their deaf child.
Language that connects people and robots
Piek Vossen (VU)
(I build Agents and Robots with a brain to understand the world and us through language. Two facts about me: I like jazz and play tenor saxophone; I love my grand daughter.)
We do not only learn a language but also learn about us, our culture and the world. Because of this common ground, language is a pragmatic instrument. We use language to evoke shared ideas and experiences. How does that work for a robot that does not share our experiences and still needs to learn about us and the world? Is AI as we know it sufficient or do we need more to make robots understand our language?
How speaking many languages shapes the brain
Michal Korenar (UvA)
(He studies what speaking more than one language does to the brain. He investigates how multilingual experience shapes brain structure, brain ageing, and resilience. He sings in a gay choir, with plenty of Britney and Cher in the mix, and he makes a goulash good enough to make his grandmother proud.)
For many of us, multilingualism is simply part of daily life. We switch between languages, adapt to different people and places, and move between different ways of thinking without even noticing it. But what if this everyday experience is quietly reshaping the brain? In this talk, I take you on a journey through the multilingual brain, from changes in brain structure to new ways of asking how languages may shape the way the brain ages. Could living in more than one language even help us understand what keeps the brain resilient later in life?
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