The Priority Programme “Visual communication. Theoretical, empirical, and applied perspectives (ViCom)” (SPP 2392) from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) supports interdisciplinary research that advances our understanding of visual and multimodal communication. It focuses on the development of formally explicit linguistic models that account for the unique features of visual communication, such as sign languages, co-speech gestures, and emojis. The program aims to create new theoretical frameworks, empirical methodologies, and practical applications for understanding the cognitive mechanisms behind visual communication, with an emphasis on expanding formal linguistic theory, refining experimental methods, and applying research findings to didactic, therapeutic, and technological contexts. It encourages collaboration across fields like linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, and computational linguistics, with a particular focus on supporting diverse researchers, including women, deaf researchers, and those in early career phases.
Funding is provided for a three-year period.
Applications close March 31, 2025.