Leibniz-Zentrum Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft Leibniz-Gemeinschaft

Research Themes

Since 2020, research at ZAS is oriented towards specific research themes which determine the work for at least four to six years in the medium term. Ideally, a research theme calls for the expertise of two or more research areas and thus strengthens cooperation across the research areas. Research themes are presented to the Scientific Advisory Board, evaluated by it and, if necessary, modified by ZAS staff.

Research Themes as of 2024

  • Architecture of grammar systems
  • Mismatches and Disambiguation
  • Multimodality, motion, speech production and perception
  • Crosslinguistic interaction
  • Number and measure
  • Social meaning
  • Speaker’s choice and language use
  • Language and speaker diversity

Research Themes 2020-2023

For the period up to the end of 2023, the scientists at the ZAS have been working on eight research topics, to which each of the four research areas contributes differently:

  • Meaning and cognition
  • Domains across linguistic modules
  • Multimodality, motion, production and perception
  • Social meaning
  • Language documentation & archiving
  • Language contact
  • Speech acts and perspective
  • Speaker’s choice and language use