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let.rug.nl>Graduate Student Stipend Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences, Groningen Begin approx. 1 Jan 97 NEUROCOMPUTING AND LANGUAGE Graduate Student Stipend ------------------------ Available to puruse study leading to a Ph.D. with a specialization in computational linguistics (CL). This is a special program of the Groningen graduate school for Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences (BCN), and is limited to students from outside the Netherlands. RESEARCH AREA: Linguistic theory almost universally proposes tightly organized, discrete and logically complex models to describe structure, e.g. models involving inventories of segments and signs, and combined using rules and patterns which are deductively complex, recursive, and categorical. Even processing theories (psycholinguistic and/or computational) tend to make use of statistical, or nondiscrete dependencies or asynchronous processing only in peripheral ways. But language is ultimately processed, learned and stored in neural structure. Neuroscience has been successful in describing fundamental cognitive processes, including some aspects of perception, categorization, and learning. The basic neural mechanisms it adduces are rather unlike those we find in linguistic theorizing. The categories are decidedly "fuzzy". In place of inventories of discrete rules or patterns, we instead find statistical generalizations (often cloaked in procedural, sort of "derivational" formulations) which may or may not have rule-based systems as useful approximations. Information is processed asynchronously, preferably with little deductive depth (few processing steps). The general question is how one can reconcile the discrete, symbolic methods of linguistics with the statistical, numerical methods suggested by neuroscience. A successful project will focus on some aspect of how the discrete rule systems used in linguistics are related to the nondiscrete processing used in neuro-computing. Preferably this will use a limited linguistic domain (e.g. phonological processses, or semantical selection restrictions) as material, and will also experiment with different implemented computational models, and will furthermore analyze these methods and models. A special current opportunity is association with Laurie Stowe's "Pionier Project", which focuses on neurological correlates of psycholinguistic processing, making use of several neurological probes to map brain processes, including PET, ERP and MRI. A project might be designed to cooperate with this group, and to involve computational models of this work. CANDIDATE: A candidate should have training in neurocomputing (i.e., coursework and/or undergrad thesis) and be interested in applying this to linguistic problems. Initial university training (English honors degree, German Diplom, American BS or MS) must have been completed successfully prior to assuming the stipend. He or she should speak and write English comfortably (and will probably wish to learn Dutch, but isn't obliged to). Initiative, creativity and tenacity are major plus points. ENVIRONMENT: Alfa-informatica is the computational linguistics group of Linguistics, which is in turn a part of BCN. There are four permanent staff positions dedicated to language and text processing, and approx. eight researchers (FTE's) working as postdocs, graduate students, or researchers. The focus of the group until now has been on linguistic models, but see E. Tjong Kim Sang's work on phonotactic learning for some experiments using simple recurrent nets. See http://www.let.rug.nl/Alfa-Info.l.html for current projects, staffing, papers, etc. including pointers to Tjong Kim Sang's papers. The current project represents an effort to explore a neurocomputing perspective. CONDITIONS OF STIPEND: The stipend will be f 2,500. (gross), which would normally be approx. 1,700. (net) (depending on age and family circumstances). (On June 10, f 1.11 = DM 1= $0.59) The stipend holder is expected to conduct research leading to the Ph.D (including some coursework), to participate in the semi-regular meetings of the CL research group, and to assume minor departmental responsibilities (e.g., maintain a software package or serving as library liaison). A small amount of teaching (two courses over four years) will be advisable as professional training. TIMETABLE: Applications due by 1 Aug. Candidates should be prepared to begin 1 Jan. 1997, and run for maximally four years. Exceptions (earlier or later) possible by explicit prior arrangement (please mention any such wishes in your letter of application). Preference will be given to candidates who can begin earlier. APPLICATIONS (preferably by email) should include CV, an example of writing on a related subject, and the names of two professionals willing to write letters of recommendation. An accompanying letter should elaborate on your interest and further focus you would suggest for the research project (if any). In case of printed material, please send to J.Nerbonne, Alfa-informatica, P.O. Box 716, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 9700 AS Groningen, The Netherlands. FURTHER INFORMATION: John Nerbonne, nerbonneMail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue
sfsu.edu>SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR DOCTORAL AND ADVANCED MASTER'S STUDENTS NEW DOCTORAL EMPHASIS AND GRADUATE SEMINARS IN "ATYPICAL DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLINGUISTICS" A new emphasis in "Atypical Developmental Psycholinguistics" within the Joint Doctoral Program in Special Education (University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco State University) will begin fall 1996. A brief description of the new emphasis and associated required coursework is enclosed. As part of this specialization, three new graduate seminars (SPED 921, 922, and 923) focusing on language and literacy issues in exceptional or "atypical" children and adolescents presenting sensory, cognitive, linguistic, and/or motoric disabilities will be offered on the San Francisco State University campus during the 1996-97 academic year (see enclosed seminar descriptions). These seminars will be open to doctoral as well as advanced master's students. Students with a background in Special Education, Psychology, Linguistics, Deaf Education, Communicative Disorders and related disciplines are welcome and encouraged to enroll as long as they satisfy the prerequisite requirements. Graduate students from Bay Area universities that are members of the Consortium may also register for these seminars. If you are a graduate student registered on any campus of the University of California (UC), you may register at San Francisco State University (SFSU) as an Intercampus Exchange Graduate Student with the approval of your graduate adviser, the chair of the department in which you want to study, the dean of the Graduate Division on the home campus, and the dean of the Graduate Division on the host campus. You may obtain an application form for the Intercampus Exchange Program for Graduate Students from the office of the dean of the Graduate Division on your home UC campus. You should complete and file the application form at least three weeks before the opening of the term of enrollment on the SFSU campus. With the approval of the Graduate Division and your department, you may register and pay applicable fees at your home UC campus and be exempt from tuition and fees at SFSU. You may enroll for only one course per semester at SFSU. Important: please obtain an "Add Form" from the Department of Special Education at SFSU and bring it to the professor on the first day of instruction. - ----------------- Emphasis in "Atypical Developmental Psycholinguistics" Joint Doctoral Program in Special Education Department of Special Education College of Education San Francisco State University and Graduate School of Education University of California at Berkeley This effort represents the establishment of a new emphasis in "Atypical Developmental Psycholinguistics" (ADP) within the Joint Doctoral Program in Special Education at San Francisco State University (SFSU) and the University of California at Berkeley (UCB). The program emphasis is co-directed by Dr. Philip M. Prinz, Professor of Special Education at SFSU and Dr. Dan Slobin, Professor of Psychology at UCB. The Joint Doctoral emphasis in "Atypical Developmental Psycholinguistics" relates the study of language behavior, its development and use by children and adolescents to atypical development and exceptionality, with a particular focus on linguistic and cognitive differences and their social, psychological and neurological correlates. The program emphasis covers the study of language development across various modalities: spoken, signed and written and includes information on American Sign Language (ASL) as well as alternative/augmentative communication. Students select between two specialization strands within this emphasis: Strand 1 involves research and coursework on language acquisition as related to cognitive, linguistic and/or motoric disability and focuses on language development in specific atypical populations (i.e., autistic and severely emotionally disturbed, specific language impaired, language/learning disabled, severely/multiply disabled). Strand 2 of the emphasis covers the study of deafness, especially as it relates to the psycholinguistic aspects of sign language and sign language acquisition with children and adolescents presenting sensory disabilities. The social and cultural contexts of communicative interactions and their implications for language and literacy acquisition, assessment and intervention will be a central focus of both interdisciplinary specialization strands. - ------------------------------------------------------------- New graduate Seminars in "Atypical Developmental Psycholinguistics" JOINT DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION San Francisco State University AND UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY 1996-97 Academic Year Seminars Offered on the San Francisco State University Campus: SPED 921 Current Issues in Atypical Language and Literacy Acquisition (3 units) Prerequisite: Basic coursework in linguistics, psycholinguistics and language acquisition. Consent of Instructor. Review of current research issues in atypical developmental psycholinguistics as related to sensory, cognitive, linguistic, and motoric disabilities in children and adolescents across spoken, written and signed modalities including information on American Sign Language (ASL) and augmentative/alternate communication. The seminar emphasizes critical analysis of current research on atypical language acquisition. Includes class discussion and critiques, and collaborative teaching on the part of faculty with similar research interests (e.g., second language learning, language disabilities, bilingualism and the acquisition of English and ASL). (to be offered Fall semester 1996, Thursday, 1-4 p.m.) SPED 922 Research Design and Methodologies in Atypical Developmental Psycholinguistics (3 units) Prerequisite: Basic coursework in linguistics, psycholinguistics, language acquisition, and SPED 921. Consent of Instructor. The seminar focuses on current research methodologies (e.g., ethnographic/naturalistic observational, and experimental studies) used in the study of language and literacy acquisition, assessment, and intervention in atypical or exceptional populations, especially as related to cultural and linguistic differences. (to be offered Spring semester 1997) SPED 923 Linguistic Basis of American Sign Language (ASL) and Sign Language Acquisition in Deaf Children and Adolescents (3 units) Prerequisite: Basic coursework in linguistics, psycholinguistics, and language acquisition. Consent of Instructor. The seminar covers basic linguistic features and rules of the grammar of American Sign Language (ASL) including ASL phonology, morphology, syntax, pragmatics and discourse; classifiers; temporal concepts; non manual signals; cultural variations in ASL based on ethnicity, gender, age, and geographic region; the sign language continuum and sign language differences; and ASL transcription. The seminar also focuses on developmental psycholinguistic theories of language development in deaf children as related to sign language acquisition; phonologic, morphologic, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic aspects of the development of American Sign Language (ASL); non manual aspects of sign language acquisition and the use of space in discourse; language input to deaf children and its effects on language development; acquisition of fingerspelling; and cultural and linguistic variation in deaf signing populations. (to be offered Spring semester 1997) For additional information: Dr. Philip M. Prinz office: (415) 338-7655 email: pmMail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue