# Research in language and linguistic science

**Source**: https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/research/
**Parent**: https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/study/undergraduate/

Our research is cross-disciplinary and collaborative, with a focus on exploring the development, use and acquisition of linguistic systems.

Language is unique to humans and central to virtually all human activity. Studying it provides a window on the mind, on people and on society.

We adopt a pluralistic approach to the language sciences and do not privilege any single theoretical framework or methodological approach.

## The Research Excellence Framework 2021

- We’re ranked 1st in the UK for the quality of our research - according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021). Also, 100% of our research impact was rated 4\* - REF’s highest rating.

[Learn more about the 2021 REF results](https://www.york.ac.uk/research/performance/our-ref-statement/)

## Research strengths

Understanding the complex nature of language, be it as a means of communication and thought, as a social tool, as an expression of identity, as a multimodal phenomenon, as a window into history and the mind, and as a formal system – is best achieved by the simultaneous pursuit of multiple approaches.

### [Phonetics and Phonology](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/research/phonetics-phonology/)

### [Forensic Speech Science](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/research/forensic-speech-science/)

### [Sociolinguistics](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/research/sociolinguistics/)

### [Language History and Language Diversity](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/research/history-diversity/)

### [Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/research/syntax/)

### [Conversation Analysis](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/research/conversation-analysis/)

### [Psycholinguistics](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/research/psycholinguistics/)

## Impact and engagement

Our research has a wide range of applications to health, social justice, equality, and education.

### Highlights

- [Inspiring students and teachers of English Language](https://www.york.ac.uk/research/impact/students-teachers-english/)
- [Can your accent be a barrier to your employment prospects?](https://www.york.ac.uk/research/impact/employment-prospects/)
- [Enhancing the quality of psychological interventions delivered by telephone](https://www.york.ac.uk/research/impact/telephone-interventions/)
- [Identifying the phonetic characteristics of spoken threats](https://www.york.ac.uk/research/impact/threats/)
- [Book of Refugees](https://www.york.ac.uk/language/research/projects/book-of-refugees/)

## Facilities

We have state-of-the-art facilities for research and for training:

- [Psycholinguistics lab](https://www.york.ac.uk/language/research/facilities/#psycholinguistics)
- [Speech lab](https://www.york.ac.uk/language/research/facilities/#speechlab)
- [Recording studio](https://www.york.ac.uk/language/research/facilities/#recording)

## Outreach

We promote our research results and wider expertise through annual or cyclic events in a variety of educational channels:

- [York English Language Toolkit](https://englishlanguagetoolkit.york.ac.uk/workshops)
- [Online Course: Accents, Attitudes and Identity](https://www.york.ac.uk/study/moocs/bioeconomy/)
- [Continuing Professional Development](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/cpd-courses/)

Publications

Search for research and browse publications in the York Research Database.

[Explore publications](https://pure.york.ac.uk/portal/en/organisations/language-and-linguistic-science(81ada299-c484-4e02-9258-9cbbab122e0d).html)

Research degrees

Push the boundaries of knowledge in our supportive and stimulating environment.

[Study with us](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/study/postgraduate-research/)

News and events

Check out our latest news.

[Find out more](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/about/news/)

Visiting scholars

We welcome established academics and research students to our research community.

[How to apply](https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/research/visiting-scholars/)