INSTITUTE THEME:
The digital revolution has created new avenues for language use and novel modalities of communication. The ubiquity of technology mediates our linguistic and social interactions. The pervasive influence of technology on human development has the potential to impact the acquisition of language and change social behavior.
Technology generates new streams of data, but also offers new methods to gather and analyze data. These new approaches to testing linguistic theories include experimental research of language processing, modeling linguistic change, and more comprehensive ways to document endangered languages.
New generations of linguists will be expected to investigate these questions and incorporate methods, tools, and skills appropriate for the digital era into their scientific paradigm.