Welcome to the Cognition, Learning, and Communities Lab at King’s College London. Our group is interested in exploring diverse areas of linguistic and conceptual development across various populations and contexts. Within our research scope, we have three primary areas of interest:

Interaction Between Cognition and Language Acquisition:

We aim to understand how cognition and language intertwine during the acquisition process. We explore the mechanisms shaping language acquisition and conceptual understanding, examining how individuals across different age groups and cultural backgrounds navigate linguistic landscapes. Additionally, we have focus on the similarities and differences in typical and atypical development.

Complexities of Multilingualism Across the Lifespan:

Our research extends beyond monolingual contexts to understand the complexities of multilingualism throughout the lifespan. From early childhood to adulthood, we explore how the mind processes the interaction of multiple languages, with a special focus on the syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic domains of language. By delving into the intricacies of bi/multilingualism in typical and atypical development, we seek to understand the pathways and challenges of language acquisition in diverse linguistic environments.

Discourse and Communication in Health, Science, and Mental Health:

Human communication across areas such as physical wellbeing, mental health, and crisis situations provides a rich landscape for understanding language use. Through discourse analysis, we aim to explore how individual experiences are shaped by the language used to provide health advice, express environmental concerns, and share experiences of mental health disorders. By understanding the cognitive conceptualizations underpinning discourse in these domains, we aim to enhance our understanding of public perceptions, engagement with recommended actions, and the lived experiences of individuals navigating complex health and mental health landscapes.

Our Approach

Our approach to these areas is rooted in empirical investigation, aimed at expanding theory while fostering active collaboration with stakeholders. Theoretically, we draw upon Cognitive Linguistics and Psycholinguistics, employing frameworks such as Conceptual Metaphor Theory, Embodiment, Prototype Theory, Usage-Based Theory, Social Constructivism, and Generative Grammar. In terms of methodology, we employ a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative approaches, with a preference for multi- and mixed methods. Our methodologies encompass experiments (both offline and online, including eye-tracking), surveys, discourse analysis, observations, interviews, and corpus analyses of longitudinal data. Ultimately, our goal is to further expand our understanding of language, cognition, and communication dynamics across various contexts.