On Thursday 19. May 2022, the CFLC offered an academic lecture, entitled “Language and Culture”, held by Prof. Randy LaPolla, a leading linguist and typologist, author of authoritative writings on the Sino-Tibetan language family, among other things. At the beginning, Prof. Carlotta Viti, coordinator of the CFLC, held an opening speech, introducing the keynote speaker to the public.

Randy J. LaPolla, PhD FAHA, is currently a Professor in the Center for Language Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai. Previously, he had teaching and research appointments at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2012-2021); La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia (2004-2012); the Academia Sinica (台灣中央研究院; 1990-1998); and City University of Hong Kong (1996-2004). He was a Cheung Kong Scholar (長江學者; 2005-2008), and elected Fellow of the Australian Academy for the Humanities in 2008, and President of the Australian Linguistic Society for 2007-2009. His research focuses on the history and typology of Sino-Tibetan and Austronesian languages and issues related to the nature of communicative behavior and functional explanations for the patterns found in languages.

The lecture discussed the complex relationship between language and culture, and argued that language is culture. Accordingly, each society has its own history of development. Each one develops different methods and tools for satisfying its needs, such as how the people get food, cook it, eat it, how they dress, how they build houses, and many other things. This is what we call "culture", but they are just habits of ways of doing things, our behavior. One aspect of this behavior is how we communicate. Just as societies differ as to what methods and tools they use for a particular activity, for example using chopsticks as opposed to using the hands or a fork for eating, and these methods and tools can vary in terms of how specialized they are in terms of achieving a particular goal, the behavior we think of as language can differ between societies in terms of how specialized its structures are and for what purposes. This lecture also discusses the cognitive processes involved in communication, as well as the role language behavior plays in communication.

The lecture was offered in a mixed mode between face-to-face and online participation. It was attended by the staff of the CFLC, by colleagues of other UIC divisions, and by students. At the end of the lecture, Prof. Randy LaPolla answered various questions from teachers and students. We thank Prof. Randy LaPolla for having offered such an interesting lecture. We also thank all of our colleagues and students for having attended this important academic event.

Edited by: Yuzhu Su 2022.5.26