Members of the CLAY lab study language as a computational system. Questions of focus include:

• What types of formal mathematical structures can be used to characterize human language at each of its levels of organization (phonology, syntax, semantics, etc.)?
• What types of learning biases and learning algorithms can explain how children acquire language so rapidly?
• In what ways are AI systems similar to and different from humans in how they process language, and how can we develop technology that is more human-like?

The research that we conduct spans multiple disciplines, including theoretical linguistics, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science. For examples of specific research directions, see our Publications page.