We have particular expertise in sociolinguistics, multilingualism, language standardization, media accessibility, historical linguistics, history of language education, history of linguistic theory (including history of grammars and dictionaries), intercultural communication, and discourse analysis.
Expertise in our school covers French, German (and Dutch), Spanish & Portuguese, Russian and Slavonic languages. We also have expertise in Chinese and Italian, and a Centre for Translation and Comparative Cultural Studies.
We have particular expertise in sociolinguistics, language standardization, historical linguistics, history of language education, history of linguistic theory (including history of grammars and dictionaries), intercultural communication, and discourse analysis.
In addition to our funded projects we also collaborate with colleagues across the University through the Languages, Texts and Society Research Priority Area to understand how communication, languages and texts function and change in social, scientific and cultural contexts.
Our regular linguistics reading group meets every few weeks during semester, in addition to our research symposia, conferences, and public engagement events.
Over the past few years, many of our activities have been linked to our involvement in the AHRC-funded MEITS project (Multilingualism - Empowering Individuals, Transforming Societies, 2016-2020, Nottingham CI Nicola McLelland), and the HoLLT.net research network on the history of language learning and teaching, the result of and AHRC research network (PI Nicola McLelland, 2012-2014).
Most recently (2020-21) our AHRC-funded project Language Teaching: Learning from the Past has been developing teacher-trainer materials to embed the history of language learning and teaching in teacher training. We continue to explore the sociolinguistics of multilingualism and of language standardization, and their real-world implications.