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 internationally-renowned academic staff and subject specialists who lead our research.
More on Our expertiseResearch 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.
More on Research projectsPostgraduate researchers
Find out more about our postgraduate researchers and their projects and placements.
More on Postgraduate researchersResearch centres and networks
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.