From contemporary syntax to human language’s deep origins
New paper amplifies hypothesis that human language builds on birdsong and speech forms of other primates.
Cold case: A linguistic mystery yields clues in Russian
MIT professor’s new book explains how the quirks of Russian numerals can tell us something deep about the universal properties of grammar.
Five from MIT named AAAS fellows
The professors were recognized by their peers for their efforts to advance science or its applications.
Linguistic puzzler
Graduate student Rafael Nonato travels to the fringes of the Amazon rainforest to explore the Brazilian native language of the Kĩsêdjê.
Decoding ‘noisy’ language in daily life
Study shows how people rationally interpret linguistic input.
Nine MIT faculty members elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Among 198 elected this year to the prestigious honorary society.
Exploring a breakdown in communication
Study reveals linguistic deficits behind autistic children’s difficulties understanding other people.
MIT and Haiti sign agreement to promote Kreyòl-language STEM education
Initiative designed to help Haitians gain technical education.
How human language could have evolved from birdsong
Linguistics and biology researchers propose a new theory on the deep roots of human speech.
Q&A: Michel DeGraff on teaching STEM in Kreyòl
A model for reaching science-hungry students around the world who speak local languages
Explaining the origins of word order using information theory
Researchers believe that information theory — the discipline that gave us digital communication — can explain differences between human languages.
DeGraff awarded $1 million NSF grant to continue linguistics research in Haiti
Funding will help develop classroom tools to teach science and math in Creole for the first time.
