Language documentation

A research area within the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies.

Language documentation research

Our research

Our research focuses on the following themes:

Description and documentation for lesser-studied languages; these have included Modern South Arabian languages (Mehri, Shehret (Jibbali)); Kartvelian languages (Megrelian, Laz, Georgian); and Uralic languages (Inari Sami, Mari).
Data storage and archiving, e.g. in partnership with the ELDP, SOAS
Ethnolinguistic analysis
Multimodality in language documentation methodology
Computational and corpus approaches to language documentation, especially lexicography and morphology
Ecolinguistics, including the relationship between languages, cultures and ecosystems; biocultural diversity
The relationship between language and migration/people movement

We are active members of the Language@Leeds research hub, and in particular of the following Language@Leeds research satellites: Language and Nature; Kartvelian and Caucasian Languages.

We are soon to launch the Centre for Endangered Languages, Cultures and Ecosystems.

Our expertise

Discover our subject specialists who lead our research - from postgraduate research students to internationally-renowned academic staff.

Research projects

Our research is often collaborative and has an international impact. Explore the outcomes of our past and present research projects associated with language documentation.

Language at Leeds

Language at Leeds brings together professionals within the University involved in the study of language, connecting individuals and groups to support research across various disciplines. The central tenet of the centre is an interdisciplinary approach to addressing and understanding issues relating to language, linguistics and communication.