Our research

Our research is cross-disciplinary and collaborative, with a focus on exploring the development, use and acquisition of linguistic systems.

Language is unique to humans and central to virtually all human activity. Studying it provides a window on the mind, on people and on society.

We adopt a pluralistic approach to the language sciences and do not privilege any single theoretical framework or methodological approach.

Ranked second in the UK for the proportion of world-leading linguistics research in the UK

(Times Higher Education's ranking of the Research Excellence Framework 2014)

Research strengths

Understanding the complex nature of language, be it as a means of communication and thought, as a social tool, as an expression of identity, as a multimodal phenomenon, as a window into history and the mind, and as a formal system – is best achieved by the simultaneous pursuit of multiple approaches.

Phonetics and Phonology

Forensic Speech Science

Sociolinguistics

Language History and Language Diversity

Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics

Conversation Analysis

Psycholinguistics

Facilities

We have state-of-the-art facilities for research and for training:

University research themes

We lead collaboration across the University's research themes – areas of research excellence that cross departmental boundaries. We have strong partnerships within three themes:

Culture and Communication

Health and Wellbeing

Justice and Equality