Our research strengths

• The variety of studied languages and regional expertise
• Wide-spread of complementary thematic expertise among staff, leading to the potential if original research synergies
• Expertise in endangered languages and language documentation and description
• In-depth study of the structure of African, Asian and Middle Eastern languages and the contexts in which they are used
• Long and distinguished tradition in leading linguistic research
• Easy access to excellent specialist library holdings, Endangered Languages Archive, and Linguistics Resources Room

Our publications

The department published two journals annually that reflect the diversity of our research interests and output

• SOAS Working Papers in Linguistics
• Language Documentation and Description

Research groups

• Austronesian and Papuan Languages and Linguistics
• London Phonology Seminar
• Language Variation Reading Group
• Information Structure Reading Group

Research clusters

Theoretical linguistics and typology

• Linguistic diversity and its theoretical modelling
• Language typology
• Historical linguistics; language variation caused by patterns of language use, social factors, and language contact
• Syntax

Language documentation and description

• Documentation and description of endangered languages
• Language support and revitalization, language policy and planning

Applied linguistics

• Language pedagogy
• Second Language Acquisition
• Multilingualism
• Theory of translation

Research projects

More specific details of research based in the department are available from the research project pages or from individual staff profiles.

Research in action

Find out more about our research impact on our Research in action page