The research in the Centre focuses on cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, applied linguistics and neurolinguistics. We emphasize on interdisciplinary research methods that draw on neighbouring disciplines such as developmental psychology, cognitive science and behavioral science. At the current stage, we are particularly interested in the relation between language and thought as reflected in the specific domain of space, universal versus language-specific influences in children’s first language acquisition and adults’ second language acquisition, and the semantics-syntax interface in discourses of spatial description.

    The Centre has six full-time research members for the year 2013-2014, and a strong group of advanced academic advisors, all leading figures at the cutting edge of research into language and cognition.

    The Centre has a wide network of collaborators in China and the current research of its members is funded by grants from Shenzhen University Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation, Guangdong Province Philosophy and Social Sciences Foundation, and Natural Sciences Foundation of Leiden University (Netherlands).