Research at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) focuses on linguistic variation and diversity. In order to create more awareness and scientific understanding of this topic, research activities are clustered around six (overlapping) umbrella programmes. Many of our researchers are active in more than one group; working together across disciplines and sharing state-of-the-art research infrastructure.

Our specialists in Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing operate within these six research clusters and across disciplines, in close collaboration with the Centre for Digital Humanities (LUCDH).

Theoretical Linguistics

Studying the underlying principles of the nature of language.

 

Experimental Linguistics

At LUCL, researchers study language and speech processing using various experimental methods.

 

Descriptive Linguistics

Documenting and describing languages of the world.

 

Historical and Comparative Linguistics

The study of language in change.

 

 

Sociolinguistics and Discourse Studies

At LUCL, this field includes Argumentation and rhetoric, Interactional sociolinguistics, Language policy and planning, Language use in historical context, and Pragmatics.
 

Applied Linguistics

At LUCL, this broad linguistics field includes forensic linguistics, second language acquisition, journalism and new media, and translation studies.