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Research Groups

Active Learning for Annotation (ALFA)

  • Project Leader:Eric Ringger
  • Phone: (801) 422-7165
  • Website: http://nlp.cs.byu.edu
  • Meetings: Wednesdays 4:00-5:00 pm
  • Focus:Using a machine learning approach, active learning, to more efficiently annotate text and speech corpora with such features as part of speech, shallow syntax and semantics, etc. Note: Linguistics students should contact Deryle Lonsdale (422-4067, lonz@byu.edu) for more information.

Analogical Modeling Research Group

  • Project Leader: Royal Skousen
  • Phone: (801) 422-3482
  • Website: http://humanities.byu.edu/am/
  • Meetings: Tuesdays 4-5pm in 4082 JFSB
  • Focus: An exemplar-driven, non-rule-based method for language modeling that predicts behaviors from a feature-oriented specification of instances. We work on applications, studying and modifying the algorithm (especially in terms of quantum computing), and comparing the approach to other architectural methods of language modeling. This semester the group will be meeting jointly with the Data-based Linguistics Research Group.

Customized Video Playback Group

  • Project Leader: Alan Melby
  • Meetings: By appointment.
  • Focus: The Electronic Film Review project (using feature films in DVD format to support teaching), VAD (a format based on MPEG-7), and Video Clip Playlists. Note: When contacting Dr. Melby by email include the research group name in the subject line.

Data-based Linguistics

  • Project Leader: Mark Davies
  • Phone: (801) 422-9168
  • Meetings: Tuesdays 4:00-5:00 pm in 4082 JFSB
  • Focus:Data-driven and corpus-based approaches to linguistic description, analysis, production, and modeling. This semester the group will be meeting jointly with the Analogical Modeling Research Group.

Data Extraction Group

  • Project Leader: David Embley
  • Website: http://www.deg.byu.edu
  • Meetings: Fridays 8:30-9:30 am
  • Focus: Conceptual modeling, extraction and structuring of data from unstructured and semi-structured electronic documents, such as those found on the Web and in many different data warehouses. Note: Linguistics students should contact Deryle Lonsdale (422-4067, lonz@byu.edu) for information

Editing/Information Design Research Group

  • Project Leader:Alan Manning
  • Phone: (801) 422-2974
  • Website: http://linguistics.byu.edu/classes/Ling580am
  • Meetings:as needed in Fall 2009, 10:00 - 10:50 MWF in Winter 2010
  • Focus:We're reviewing applied linguistics research with implications for editing and information design. The aim is to explore the literature and design new research projects in this area, and to help working editors develop portfolios in which editorial decisions are annotated with explanations of linguistic principles governing those decisions. Students can participate for 580R credit, but other interested faculty and students are welcome to sample our reading list and our recent published work, and/or discuss and develop new research projects.

Emily Dickinson Lexicon Project

Mobile Language Technology Research Group

  • Project Leader: Jarom McDonald
  • Phone: (801) 709-1556
  • Website: http://humdev.byu.edu/trac/iphone
  • Meetings: TTh 12:00 -1:30 in B013 JFSB
  • Focus: We're working to collaboratively develop an intelligent, smartphone application that will diagnose, ameliorate, and then re-assess language pronunciation. Throughout the semester we will learn about mobile technology in the Humanities, specifically foreign language instruction, by focusing on pushing existing applications on the Apple iPhone and Google Android further than they've currently been developed. We meet in a seminar format as a CHum 450 class. Note: Linguistics students should contact Deryle Lonsdale (422-4067, lonz@byu.edu) for more information.

PSST! (Pedagogical Software and Speech Technology)

  • Project Leaders: Ray Graham and Deryle Lonsdale
  • Phone: (801) 422-2208
  • Website: http://linguistics.byu.edu/psst
  • Meetings: Weekly: Fridays 12:00-1:00 pm in 4168 JFSB
  • Focus: Use of speech technology in language learning: existing speech technology, pedagogical needs, and technological tools development for language learning.

Second Language Acquisition Research Group

  • Project Leaders: Dan Dewey and Wendy Baker
  • Phone: (801) 422-6005
  • Meetings: Weekly: Mondays 12:00-1:00 pm
  • Focus:Studies acquisition of additional languages by adult learners. Recently exploring language development of learners in campus Foreign Language Residences and in BYU study abroad programs.

Soar and NL-Soar

  • Project Leader: Deryle Lonsdale
  • Phone: (801) 422-4067
  • Website: http://linguistics.byu.edu/nlsoar
  • Meetings: Weekly: Mondays 4:00-5:00 pm in 4186 JFSB
  • Focus: Intelligent agent architectures, cognitive modeling of language use, parsing, semantics and pragmatic/discourse processing.

Spoken Language Identification

  • Project Leader:Eric Ringger
  • Phone: (801) 422-7165
  • Website: http://nlp.cs.byu.edu
  • Meetings: Weekly TBA
  • Focus:Using statistical and feature-based methods of speech processing to automatically detect which language a person is speaking on a telephone. Note: Linguistics students should contact Deryle Lonsdale (422-4067, lonz@byu.edu) for more information.

Statistical Natural Language Processing

  • Project Leader:Eric Ringger
  • Phone: (801) 422-7165
  • Website: http://nlp.cs.byu.edu
  • Meetings: Wednesdays 12:00-1:00 pm
  • Focus:Statistical methods of processing natural language, including parsing, generating, text classification, and machine translation. Note: Linguistics students should contact Deryle Lonsdale (422-4067, lonz@byu.edu) for more information.

Syriac Language Resource Development

  • Project Leader:Kristian Heal
  • Phone: (801) 422-9019
  • Meetings: Weekly TBA
  • Focus:Using state-of-the-art techniques to collect, annotate, and deploy language resources (corpora, lexicons) for the Syriac language. Note: Linguistics students should contact Deryle Lonsdale (422-4067, lonz@byu.edu) for more information.

Technology and Language Learning

  • Project Leader: Alan Melby
  • Phone: (801) 422-2144
  • Meetings: By appointment.
  • Focus:Using EFR and TBX for language learning, QuickEnglish, and the Language Training, Assessment, and Certification consortium. Note: When contacting Dr. Melby by email include the research group name in the subject line.

TESOL Program Assessment Research Group

            • Project Leaders: Lynn Henrichsen and Mark Tanner
            • Phone: (801) 422-2938 (Henrichsen), 422-8154 (Tanner)
            • Meetings: Weekly: Thursdays 10:30-11:30 am
            • Focus: Assessment of various aspects of TESOL teacher-preparation
programs (especially ours) to determine their nature and worth
(validity, usability, etc.). Also, investigations of the career paths
that TESOL graduates follow and moderator variables (coursework
completed, L1, gender, national origin, etc.) that affect their
careers after graduation.  The results of our recent TESOL alumni
survey (with nearly 300 respondents) constitute a major data source
for research in this area. This group's overall goal is to provide an
empirical foundation for designing the curricula of teacher-
preparation programs in TESOL.
           

Translation Research Group

  • Project Leader: Alan Melby
  • Phone: (801) 422-2124
  • Website: http://www.ttt.org
  • Meetings: Irregularly / as necessary
  • Focus: Translation technology: tools for human translators, data exchange and content markup standards, tools integration from multiple vendors, support for product Globalization, Internationalization, and Localization (GIL). Examples include the TBX and ASTM F15.48 standards. Note: When contacting Dr. Melby by email include the research group name in the subject line.