Exploring the intersection of language, cognition, and communication at Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras
The Language & Cognition Lab at IIT Madras is dedicated to advancing research at the intersection of language, cognition, and communication. We use experimental, computational, and typological methods—including eye-tracking, self-paced reading, and picture-matching tools—to investigate the cognitive processing of various linguistic phenomena. While our primary focus is on languages spoken in India, we also examine these constructions from a cross-linguistic perspective.
Our work lies at the crossroads of linguistics, cognitive science, and AI in education. We aim to deepen our understanding of how the human brain (and possibly also AI) deploys and responds to different linguistic structures.
Dr. Anindita Sahoo
Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras
Research Interests: Syntax, Pragmatics, Language Processing, Eye-tracking, Cognition Studies
Aziza Said Hussain
Copula in Swahili: Pragmatic Functions and Grammaticalization Process
Snigdha Medhi
Patterns of Ergativity in Assamese, and Its Varieties
Gunti Prem Sagar
Syntactic Patterns of Non-Verbal Predication in Select Dravidian Languages
Krishna Raj SR
From pixels to prepositions: Linking Vision and Spatial Prepositions
Scherezade Dastur
Code Alternation in Parsi Gujarati and English: An Interactional Linguistics Approach
Pratiti Palit
On the Interaction of Honorification, Copula and Definiteness: A Variationist Approach
Ruby George
Persuasion in Public Service Advertising: Creating Changes Through Creative Strategies in the Print Media
To be hired
We also regularly host visiting scholars and student interns. Interested in joining? Contact us.
A cross-linguistic study of select Indo-Aryan and Dravidian languages
Sponsored by: Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi
A need analysis in the context of Odisha
Sponsored by: Aspire Infolabs, Hyderabad
In the Indian academic setting
Sponsored by: American Express
Typological and discourse pragmatic perspectives
Sponsored by: Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
A case study under warming scenario from the Eastern coastal region of India
Sponsored by: Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
Of linguistic constructions in South Asian languages
Sponsored by: Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
We use the EyeLink Portable Duo system from SR Research for our eye-tracking studies. This high-precision device allows us to capture real-time eye movement data with millisecond accuracy, making it ideal for research in language processing, reading comprehension, and visual attention. Its portability and flexibility support a wide range of experimental designs across diverse participant populations.
Prof. Dagmar Divjak
University of Birmingham
Prof. Foong Ha Yap
Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Prof. Prof. Marcel den Dikken
Hungarian Research Centre for Linguistics
Prof. Seppo Kittilä
University of Helsinki, Finland
Prof. Srinivasa Chakravarthy
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Prof. Sweta Sinha
Indian Institute of Technology Patna
The linguistics-enthusiast crew that offered help in setting up the lab—from naming it to creating the logo and website.
Co-scripted the nomenclature
Co-created the logo
Co-designed the website
Interested in joining the lab or collaborating? Reach out to us!