Dynamic Psycholinguistics cluster is for those who are interested in the “classical” questions in psycholinguistics (how to describe people’s ability to use and understand language, how does “linguistic meaning” relate to concepts and categories) but are not comfortable with a view of language as a product of rules and representations in an individual’s head.
Following Pattee’s theory of information in biological systems (Pattee, 1969, 1972), language is treated as a system of constraints on interaction dynamics, ontogenetic dynamics and cultural evolution dynamics. This shift in perspective 1) changes the scope of the data pertinent to the theories of natural language as well as 2) changes the preferred analytical tools.
Ad 1): The complexity of the system of constraints operating on multiple time-scales and multiple levels calls for changes in research methodology, and interest in data from traditional psycholinguistic experiments as well as corpus and developmental research. Most importantly, since is it assumed that explanatory concepts lay on the level of interaction, research pertains not only to individual cognitive processes but extends to dyads, groups and populations.
Ad 2): Emphasizing dynamical processes and self-organization calls for adaptation of conceptual framework and data analysis techniques from dynamical systems theory and points to computer simulations (mainly based on multiagent architectures) as useful form of theory.
Click here for a more detailed description of the scientific programme for Dynamic Psycholinguistics.
Presently several projects motivated by the programme are underway, realized by the Cognitive Systems Warsaw group. See details at, http://cs.icm.edu.pl
You are welcome to join physically or virtually by contacting Joanna Rączaszek-Leonardi
Cluster Coordinator: Joanna Raczaszek-Leonardi