Research in theoretical linguistics and its applications for

communication disorders and Artificial Intelligence.

Thao Lê

1. Research in Theoretical Linguistics

Native speakers know their language and they acquire it in early childhood.
What is this knowledge? (Language and mind)
Do they know that they know? (Language and mind)
- Implicit knowledge
- Explicit knowledge

Language as a system (i.e. Theory of grammar)

a. Traditional linguistic research explains this system in terms of:

• The system has different layers/levels:
• Sound sub-system (phonology)
• Word sub-system (morphology)
• Sentence sub-system (syntax)
• Meaning (semantics)
The research focus is very much on the code (structural emphasis).

b. Current linguistic research expands the system beyond the sentence level:
• Conversation analysis
• Discourse analysis
• Text analysis
• Genre analysis
The research focus is very much on the link between meaning, form and function,
particularly on language in context.

Research in applied linguistics

• Sociolinguistics: language in its social & cultural context
• Pragmatics: language in use (e.g. communication strategies)
• Educational linguistics (LOTE, TESOL, literacy education)
• Psycholinguistics: cognitive aspects, language processing (e.g. receptive,
expressive),
• Neurolinguistics: language and the brain.

A few examples in linguistics:

The notion of linguistic complexity

- Lexical density
Words: content and function words
Content words: normally noun, verb, adjective and adverb
Function words: the, in, since, because.
I see my mothers in the market. (3/7)
Function words: I, my, in the
Content words: see, mother, market.

- Grammatical metaphors:
Dogs frighten me.
Falling in love frightens me.

2. Theoretical Linguistics Research and Communication disorders

There is a connection between human language, child language development and

communication disorders.

(a) The speech sounds children acquire very late in their language development
(b) will be the rarest sounds in human languages and (c) are the first to
disappear in aphasics (a kind of communication disorder).

Linguistic complexity, language development, and communication disorders.

Receptive language processing and expressive language processing
Form, meaning and function
• Stuttering person
• Hearing-impaired person
• Aphasia
• Autistic children

3. Theoretical Linguistics Research and Artificial Intelligence

Simple intelligent tasks

• How can computer check our spelling?
• How can computer check our grammatical errors?
• Can it be wrong? If so, how and why?

Complex intelligent tasks

• Can computer understand human language?
• Can it have a conversation with me?
• How can computer translate English into French?
• Can computer become children’ partner in the writing process?
Research in theoretical linguistics can provide some insights into these mysterious
issues.

Examples used in the talk:

Example 1:
Note: C: computer, U: user
C: what is your name?
U: Thao
C: Hello, Thao, where do you come from?
U: Saigon
C: Where is Saigon?
U: It is a big city in Vietnam.
C: Next time, when you go back to Saigon, bring me along.

Example 2: Let’s see how computer can identify our grammatical errors.
Yesterday I sing a song.
Yesterday I play.
Today I sings a song. (sing)
A boy sing a songs. (A boy sings, boys sing)

Dogs is friendly. (Dogs are, a dog is)

Can I see you. (question mark missing)
This car run quickly. (This car runs, these cars run)

Tim hates me.

Tim hates I. (me)
I have write a letter. (written)
I want go home.
I want see you now.

Whom do you like?

Who do you like?

I take my hat off.

I take off it.

Example 3:
(C: computer, S: student)
C: Let’s write about school? What do you like most about school?
S: Friends.
C: Tell me something about your friends.
S: …..