Leiden University Centre for Linguistics

Research

The overall theme tying all the activities of the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) together is Structure and variation in the languages of the world. In this overall theme, three key components can be distinguished.

Language structure

Studied and taught from a theory-driven perspective, defined not only narrowly within the field of linguistics, but also in a larger interdisciplinary context.

Language variation

Studied and taught from a descriptive perspective and with special attention for unique expertise in the field of diachronic research.

Languages of the world

Implying the documentation and study of a geographically unique range of languages, with a strong emphasis on (endangered) languages in the non-Western world.

Research programmes

The linguistic research carried out within LUCL can be divided in three research programmes. These programmes cover the areas of formal theoretical and experimental linguistics, language use and language description, and language and history.

Formal Theoretical and Experimental Linguistics

This programme brings together formal linguists and experimental researchers.

Language Use in Past and Present

This programme brings together researchers studying language use in the past and present from different theoretical perspectives.

Descriptive and Comparative Linguistics

This programme brings together descriptive linguists and comparative and philological linguists interested in specific language families.