LSA Institute Workshop: The State of the Art in Speech Error Research

University Of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Abstract

When we talk we give people a glimpse into our thoughts and thought processes. But when we make a slip of the tongue, we reveal processes that are normally hidden from view. Freudian slips are popular examples, but psycholinguists have been using speech errors for many years to study the more mechanical aspects of language and mind. Recent scientific advances have brought new tools to the table like neuroimaging, genomics, high-end computer simulation, and the world wide web. How can these new tools be used with speech errors to further our understanding of language and mind? With NSF funding, Dr. Carson Schutze and Dr. Victor Ferreira will bring together an international group of experts to map out the future of speech error research. The workshop, to be held at the Linguistic Society of America's Summer Institute in Cambridge, MA, in July 2005, will be organized to facilitate an interchange of ideas among students and established researchers from a variety of scientific backgrounds. A key topic of discussion will be the assembly of a large, publically available speech-error database. The workshop will encourage the participation and training of graduate students in the presence of leading international researchers, both as presenters and as active audience members. It will enhance the infrastructure for research and teaching involving speech errors, by providing the spark for new collaborations between psycholinguists and theoretical linguists. Research on speech errors may contribute to the understanding and treatment of language disorders (e.g. aphasia) or processing overload due to multitasking (e.g. talking while driving).