Research on linguistic theory exploring the possibilities for mutual understanding in society

What is true and what is not true is by no means self-evident as we see from events in contemporary society. Yet, if we fail to recognize obvious falsehoods, then our acts of communication and speech come to nothing. This situation poses a fundamental problem for society as well as for the social sciences and theoretical linguistics. Today’s tools of communication impact not only the ways in which we communicate but also the relationship between people’s knowledge and beliefs. While paying close attention to how these changes are affecting communication and language, this project will conduct linguistic analyses and develop new theories concerning the relationship between a person’s knowledge and their beliefs. Within the context of global studies, this research will seek to reexamine the foundations of communication, that is, what makes communication possible and what causes it to fail (for more, click ‘Project Overview’ tab).