Phonological Syntax in Bat Vocalizations - A Biolinguistic Approach

• Applicant: Privatdozentin Dr. Mirjam Knörnschild
• Subject Area: Sensory and Behavioural Biology
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273857639

The highly interdisciplinary field of biolinguistics focuses on the biological foundations of language to elucidate its evolution and merges findings from cognitive science, ethology, neuroscience, genetics, anthropology, comparative psychology and theoretical linguistics. A fundamental question in this context is which aspects of language are uniquely human and which homologous traits can be found in animal vocalizations. The current consensus identifies three key components of language, namely vocal imitation, syntax and semantic reference. The linguistic term phonological syntax is often used when referring to discrete vocal elements arranged in a specific temporal order without implied semantics (i.e. meaning). Applying formal linguistic methods to investigate the phonological syntax of animal vocalizations can be highly informative. However, the vocalizations of the most vocal mammals, cetaceans and bats, have not been investigated in detail so far. I will study syntax production and perception in bats with a biolinguistic approach by using different observational, experimental and computational linguistic methods. The bat Saccopteryx bilineata is a highly interesting species for biolinguistic syntax research because it is one of the few mammals capable of vocal imitation, which is another key component of human language. I will study syntax ontogeny, regional syntactical differences and syntax flexibility in different vocalizations of S. bilineata. In addition, I will apply computational linguistic methods to study syntax in bat vocalizations with an interdisciplinary approach.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigators: Privatdozent Dr. Frieder Mayer; Dr. Martina Nagy