Center for Language Science at Penn State

Check out this short video to learn about some of the things researchers have discovered when studying the development of bilingual babies' brains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Gn_ImK4_Y

Dr. William Labov is a pioneer in the field of sociolinguistics. He was recently awarded the Talcott Parsons Prize for his distinguished and original contributions to the social sciences. Check out this online event to learn more about Dr. Labov's seminal work, and what some other sociolinguists have to say about the extent of his influence on the field: https://www.amacad.org/events/honoring-labov

This week's #CLSSpotlight is Andrew Fleming. Andrew is a Master's student in the department of Spanish Italian and Portuguese. Read below to learn about his research and experience in the CLS!: 1. Could you tell us a little bit about your research interests? I am interested in the intersection of language and social identitythe ways in which language is used to construct those identities, and the ways in which those identities inform ideologies of communication. ... 2. What brought you to your research interests and what do you enjoy most about your research? As an undergraduate student studying English and Hispanic literatures, I focused on language use in colonial and neo-colonial American contexts and the dynamics of translation in these settings. Today, what I love most about my research is listening deeply to the personal histories contained within sociolinguistic corpora. 3. Your research focuses on studying Spanish in settings of linguistic contact, like in Boston. What is something you wish more people knew about Spanish in the US? I wish people more understood the highly multilingual and multi-dialectal nature of Spanish in the United States and appreciated the highly creative ways in which the language has been put to use and transformed. In the U.S. there is a toxic obsession with monolingualism and the nationalist mythology of standard English. 4. What is your favorite part about being a part of the CLS? The interdisciplinary nature of the CLS makes it an amazing place to gain new perspectives on language and discuss ideas with people outside your field of study. Whenever I have a question about something, I feel there is someone in CLS I can talk to.