Languages as Complex Networks

This project investigates the implementation of a complex network framework for the analysis of syntactic changes from a diachronic perspective. This involves creating syntactic dependency networks from historical corpora and applying network related measurements for their analysis and understanding. This project is conducted in collaboration with Babak Ravandi, Ph.D., research fellow at Center for Complex Network Research at the Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.

The preprint of "The Hierarchical Organisation of Syntax" is available at arXiv.

Pragmatic Variation in the History of German

This project in Historical Pragmatics investigates the different manifestations of positive and negative face-work in Old Saxon and Old, Middle, and Early New High German. It analyses a wide range of different speech acts with the aim to better understand the weight of positive and negative politeness in the earlier stages of the German language.
The first studies on Old High German and Old Saxon are available in the following journals:

‘Ih gebiude dir, wurm!’ Directives in Old Saxon and Old High German. Journal of Historical Pragmatics.

“Face” in retrospective: The use of “thanks” and “to thank” In Old Saxon and Old High German. Lodz Papers in Pragmatics.

The Effects of Visual Feedback on Pronunciation for Learners of German as a Foreign Language

Different strategies are employed to improve second language (L2) pronunciation, aiming to align learner pronunciation closely with the target language. Some strategies include explicit instructions using IPA symbols and detailed explanations about articulation and manner of speech. Additionally, corrective feedback and focus-on-form instructions have been beneficial. Another influential method is visual feedback through speech analysis software, allowing learners to compare their pronunciation visually with the target language. Research indicates that combining explicit instructions with visual feedback is especially effective. However, the majority of studies exploring these strategies have focused on English and Spanish, leaving a gap in our understanding of their efficacy in diverse language combinations. To address this, this project explore the effect of visual feedback for learners of German as a Foreign Language.