Language is a complex process we’re only able to control a small part of: expression takes more than words…

Is there a way we can better understand and control what we wish to express? What parts play the different aspects of the language process, its cultural, social, cognitive, affective, psychological and neurologic foundations? What questions could be answered by the study of body language?

Such are the subjects of the 4th International Conference “Language, Culture and Mind”, set up by the Åbo Akademi University, Finland.

Here’s a selection among the various themes under consideration:

– Body language

– Developing cognitive abilities reflected in children’s narratives

– Cross-cultural survey of gossip

– Action and language, an archaeological approach.

– Quantitative intercultural comparison by parallel pageranking of diverse “wikipedias”

– Contrasting native speakers’ and linguist’s opinions and outlooks

– Metaphors of time

– Language disorders

– Testing the great apes’ pictorial abilities

The opening speech will be delivered jointly by Chris Sinha, Professor in language psychology and First President of the UK Cognitive Linguistics Association, and Professor Urpo Nikanne of Åbo University, specialized in language semantics. Other participants will include scholars from Northern Europe (Finland, Germany, Denmark) and USA Universities.

The conference will be held on the Åbo Akademi University campus, in the Arken Building:

Åbo Akademi University

Tuomiokirkontori 3

FI-20500 TURKU, FINLANDE