Category Archives: Uncategorized

Notes on Large Language Models and Linguistic Theory

After having a recent conversation with Steven Piantadosi on large language models, I wanted to briefly comment here on some of the themes in our discussion, before turning to additional critiques that we did not have enough time to talk … Continue reading

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Universal Grammar is not dead

In a new study to be published in next week’s issue of PNAS, Yuan Yang and Steven Piantadosi’s paper, “One model for the learning of language,” attempts to show that language acquisition is possible without recourse to “innate knowledge of the … Continue reading

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University College Dublin School of Medicine Lecture

A recent talk I gave at UCD School of Medicine: “Why Everything You Know About Language is Wrong”.

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Active Inference GuestStream Video

A recent video from the Active Inference GuestStream, presenting a pre-print with Emma Holmes and Karl Friston and discussing the nature of language and computation.

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New paper out in Ampersand

Joint work with Evelina Leivada is now out in Ampersand. We discuss 10 ambiguous, misused or polysemous terms in linguistics, including I-/E-language, entrainment, reference, ‘the neural basis of X’, (un)grammaticality, third factor, and labeling.

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The primitive brain of early Homo

Science today published a new study on early Homo braincase shape, with some commentary from me included. The full paper is here.

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Abralin lecture on YouTube

Part of the Abralin series of linguistics lectures: “A Neurocomputational Perspective on Syntax“. ‘How are basic linguistic computations implemented in the brain? Drawing on recent findings from the biological and cognitive sciences, I will propose a neurocomputational model of language … Continue reading

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New regular column at Psychology Today

Starting this week, Psychology Today are publishing new articles of mine under the column “Language and Its Place in Nature“, so more regular writings can be found there. The first piece is about how aging impacts language processing.

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