The research profile of the Applied Linguistics research group is centred on child language acquisition, second language acquisition and speech coding.
Our research is embedded in the interdisciplinary platform ViaTaal which functions as a center of reference in research and education on the role of language acquisition and language use in relation to equality of opportunities in modern societies.
Child language acquisition
Adopting a linguistic framework, we carry out intensive research into typical and atypical language acquisition patterns in various groups of children with language and/or hearing disorders. Monolingual and multilingual children with specific language development disorders, children with dyslexia and children with hearing disorders are central to the research. In cooperation with the VUmc (LHCA), the group also studies spoken language comprehension by adult native-language speakers with hearing disorders in relation to their cognitive and linguistic capabilities.
Second language acquisition
Our research moreover focuses on the way in which people learn, use, and process a second language, as well as effective didactical approaches of instructed second language acquisition. Our particular interest here concerns Dutch as a second language (NT2), which we share with the research department of VU-NT2. The current research projects of VU-NT2 Research can be found on its website. VU-NT2 Research also carries out commissioned research, see the website (in Dutch) for more information.
Speech perception and speech coding
The third pillar of research in the group concerns speech perception in relation the way it is coded in current hearing technology (cochlear implants, classical hearing aids). One of our main objectives is finetuning algorithms for targeted, computer-assisted calibration of speech processors in the cochlear implants of deaf language users. Another objective is to investigate the complex interplay between a listener’s linguistic competence, their cognitive resources and their hearing ability in difficult listening situations (e.g. when background noise is present).
The research group attaches particular importance to the social value of its research outcomes. Our research focuses on the user and we include them in our research in various ways (e.g., for feedback on the design, as a participant). Results, knowledge and insights are translated into applications in education, healthcare and IT. Examples include the optimization of spoken language development in children with a hearing impairment; the development of tools tomeasure linguistic performance in children or adolescents with DLD or in multilingual children with dyslexia which can be used in clinical or educational settings; the development of language tests for adult language learners and the improvement of methods for second and foreign language teaching. The group also developed a website for speech language therapists and clinical linguists with information on over 70 languages, that they can consult for the diagnosis and treatment of multilingual children with a possible DLD.
We have many ties with companies who are interested in innovative research in applied linguistics, such as the publishers of teaching materials and language tests, the producers of cochlear implants and hearing aids, firms that develop software for dyslexics and for audiological practices, acoustic engineers and producers of noise-cancelling products.
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