Words In Action: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Understanding Word Processing and Storage

Almost all levels of language knowledge and processing (from phonology, to syntax and semantics) are known to be affected by knowledge of word structure at varying degrees. A better understanding of the human strategies involved in learning and processing word structure thus lies at the heart of our comprehension of the basic mechanisms serving both language and cognition and is key to addressing some fundamental challenges for the study of the physiology of grammar. On the 12th and 13th of October 2009, in the Research Area of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) in Pisa, 26 scholars from Europe, Canada and the United States were convened to take part in the European Science Foundation Exploratory Workshop "Words in Action: Interdisciplinary Approaches To Understanding Word Processing And Storage". The workshop brought together experts of various scientific domains and different theoretical inclinations to advance the current awareness of theoretical, historical, psycholinguistic, computational and neurophysiological issues in morphological processing and learning, with a view to assessing levels of research convergence and exploring the potential for synergy and strategic co-operation.