LangDiv: The psycholinguistics of grammatical properties encoded on noun class prefixes

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $320,000 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

Knowing a language well and communicating successfully requires a sufficient breadth of vocabulary, including a lot of nouns. However, what exactly a person knows about any given noun varies from language to language and includes not just its dictionary meaning but also grammatical information about how that noun can be used. Understanding the multiple ways that languages encode noun-related information and how humans know and use that information during language communication is critical both for advancing cutting-edge, competitive technological tools such as AI chat and writing generators, and for a deeper understanding of how the brain manages language in everyday circumstances and during communication breakdown. In addition to meaning, various types of linguistic information are relevant to know for nouns, whether a noun is singular or plural or animate or inanimate, as well as other types of grammatical classes found across languages that serve to characterize nouns. One aim of this project is to innovate experimental tools for investigating what speakers know about nouns in languages. Developing such replicable scientific resources gives researchers a competitive edge in developing language technology and in mapping human cognition in the domain of spoken and written language. A second aim of this project is to determine whether certain types of noun structures facilitate noun recognition during language processing. Different languages encode important noun informat

Key facts

NSF award ID
2438489
Awardee
University of Southern California (CA)
SAM.gov UEI
G88KLJR3KYT5
PI
Zuzanna Z Fuchs
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Artificial Intelligence (AI), SCIENCE, MATH, ENG & TECH EDUCATION, REU SUPP-Res Exp for Ugrd Supp, Translational Research, LangDiv-Diversification in Language Scie, GRADUATE INVOLVEMENT, DLI-Dyn Language Infrastructure, LINGUISTICS
Estimated total
$320,000
Funds obligated
$320,000
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
08/15/2025 → 07/31/2028