Promoting a network for language and perception research

An understanding of language and communication is affected not only by observing the linguistic base of sound and grammar, but also by studying the interaction between linguistic and non-linguistic systems (visual, spatial, auditory, motor). The LANPERCEPT (Language and perception) project is focusing on examining the interconnections among language and perception. The researchers are exploring the relationship across the lifespan (children to older adults) within both healthy and clinical populations.

The examination of clinical and atypical populations via applied research (e.g. those with autism, dementia, deafness) is helping to identify the underlying reasons for atypical behaviour. For example, the researchers proposed that the disassociation between structural language and figurative language competence in autism should be understood through the cognitive mechanisms and characteristics of the autistic phenotype.

LANPERCEPT has already had great success in creating a strong network and training infrastructure for furthering this research. The 10 partners and 5 associated partners involved with the project created the infrastructure for Initial Training Networks (ITN). Already in the first couple of years, 11 early stage researchers have been recruited along with four experienced researchers.

The project has already conducted four successful training events and one training workshop, along with the organisation of two training schools and a training course. These events and tools have equipped the research fellows with the necessary skills to pursue their individual projects.

There have also been two international research conferences held on these topics. The first was the Cognition and Language in Developmental Disorders Conference (Seville, 2013) and the second The Embodied and Situated Language Processing Conference (Rotterdam, 2014), co-organized with other European and Nordic networks.

As the fellows continue to have success in their individual projects, the results are being widely published, a testament to the success of ITN. 52 papers in high impact international journals, 13 chapters in edited books and 12 papers in conference proceedings have already been produced.

LANPERCEPT continues to create a more successful and progressive network for language-perception research. The dynamic approach and consequent results, and the training for both newer and experienced academics, will hopefully yield significant findings about language and perception, and also increase the participation in and pursuance of research in the EU in general.