Research profiles in the field of Language and Historical Information Modeling

Our research is dedicated to computer-assisted language comparison in its entirety, focusing on evolutionary, typological, and cognitive aspects of linguistic variation. We have a strong interdisciplinary orientation and collaborate with various departments and fields of research.

The chair focuses its research on the methodological areas of historical data science, data modelling, coding and visualisation of complex text structures, and digitisation of cultural assets, as well as on environmental humanities and legal history issues.

The research conducted by Prof. Alexander Werth's chair focuses on historical and contemporary varieties of German. All levels of the language system are examined, from phonetics and morphology to syntax. A particular focus is placed on German dialects. The empirical approach is strictly data-based and involves corpus analyses and experimental methods such as reaction time measurements and electroencephalography. In terms of linguistic theory, the research is primarily rooted in structuralism, grammaticalisation and construction grammar. The research conducted at the chair is also embedded in the Passau Language and Cognition Laboratory (SKoLa).