Unexplored languages ​​will broaden our view of human language ability

Unlike other linguistic research, which mainly studies what languages ​​have in common, this project focuses on the unusual and unique. It deals with linguistic phenomena that have so far passed under the radar of science. Among other things, the research group will take a closer look at areas that are fundamental to the human conceptual world – time, space, person and knowledge. 

The project Unexplored language phenomena (UNLAP): Identifying, documenting, and explaining the outer reaches of human expressive capacity is a collaboration between the University of Gothenburg, Stockholm University, Uppsala University and Lund University.

Linguistic diversity is under threat

The world's linguistic diversity is far from being described and documented, and it is a task that is urgent. The UN agency UNESCO estimates that more than half of the world's 6,000–7,000 languages ​​will disappear in the next 75 years. Many of them before they have even had time to be described. Research sees a need to involve speakers of endangered languages ​​in the description and documentation of their own languages. The six linguists who form the core of this project have their expertise in unexplored language areas in different places around the world and have done extensive fieldwork. 

Three of the researchers are active at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Gothenburg: Henrik Bergqvist, associate professor of linguistics, Eva-Marie Bloom Ström, associate professor of African languages, and Malin Petzell, professor of African languages. 

"We also want to link to the UN's declared Decade for Indigenous Languages, which began in 2022. Interestingly enough, the languages ​​that are disappearing at a furious pace also seem to be linked to the same areas where biodiversity is disappearing the fastest", says  Eva-Marie Bloom Ström, who researches various African minority languages.

Digital archive for the future

But sadly, the limited number of linguists working with endangered languages ​​in the world will not have time to document everything they want to. 

"There are endangered languages ​​that are not studied by any linguist. These are languages ​​where there is hardly anything written down at all, they are also not available on the internet in recorded form or written form. These so-called under-resourced languages ​​lack resources, academia, dictionaries – yes, everything", says Eva-Marie Bloom Ström.

During the six years that the research program is running, the group will take a closer look at phenomena in at least 20 different languages. A digital resource will also be developed to secure all collected language data for the future.

Significant investment of millions

The research project Unexplored Language Phenomena  was recently awarded 48 million kronor by the Riksbanken Jubileumsfond . 

"Our combined expertise can suddenly be combined in a good way. Malin and I have collaborated for a long time, but not with the researchers who do similar fieldwork in, among other places, Malaysia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Colombia."

The research group is delighted that they can now strengthen their network. When they wrote the application, they already noticed that they had become a close-knit team.

"We also have a more long-term goal – to increase attention for language research. And we hope to inspire young people who are curious about working with unexplored languages, both in Sweden and in the rest of the world."

Text: Monica Havström and Janna Roosch 

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