In the four Research Areas (FB) of ZAS, central aspects of natural language are investigated: Laboratory Phonology (FB1), Language Development and Multilingualism (FB2), Syntax and Lexicon (FB3), and Semantics and Pragmatics (FB4). The Research Areas tackle theoretical questions, the findings from which are developed into socially applicable uses as well as services for science and universities. The four Research Areas of the ZAS are long-term organizational units that are defined by the scientific perspective they bring together and which each have a Head of Research Area.
Currently, scientists at ZAS are researching eight Research Themes, to which each of the four Research Areas contributes differently.
Research Area FB1
The Research Area Laboratory Phonology (FB1) investigates the physiological, phonological and socio-psychological factors affecting the production, perception and reception of language.
Research Area FB2
The Research Area Language Development and Multilingualism (FB2) investigates the development of linguistic competence in different speaker groups during their entire life spans.
Research Area FB3
The Research Area Syntax and Lexicon (FB3) deals with the properties of linking simpler units to more complex ones and examines the nature and complexity of these linkages across languages.
Research Area FB4
The Research Area Semantics and Pragmatics (FB4) is concerned with linguistic meaning and the connection between language and non-linguistic thinking.
Extensive archive of past projects from all four Research Areas