Syntax and the body: the structuring of language in multimodal sense-making

a simple line drawing showing the shapes of human bodies manipulating objects, centered, without any text


About

Project overview

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The Syntax and the body project is an international research environment that investigates how syntax and bodily conduct interface in social interaction. It brings together researchers from several different countries working on various languages.

Recent events

A set of interconnected clear acrylic cubes, each etched with minimalist icons of grammatical symbols, arrows, and gesture silhouettes, precisely aligned on a matte slate-gray table. The environment is a well-organized research meeting room with clean whiteboards and subtle accent lighting. Ambient daylight from narrow clerestory windows bathes the scene, creating gentle highlights on the transparent surfaces and structured reflections on the table. The mood is analytical and innovative, suggesting layers of meaning and complex interactions. The image is photographed at an eye-level angle with a symmetrical, balanced composition and sharp focus throughout. The style is clean and modern, reinforcing the project's interplay of structure and clarity.

Launch meeting

Our official project launch meeting was held on 2 December 2025 in Trondheim, in conjunction with the 8th Nordisco conference.

A meticulously stacked arrangement of hardcover linguistics books with sleek, neutral-toned dust jackets, featuring subtle embossed titles and clean lines, placed on a crisply organized glass desk. The desk sits within a bright, contemporary corporate office lined with minimalist shelving and muted gray walls. Soft daylight pours in through large windows, casting diffused illumination evenly over the books and workspace while gentle shadows add dimension. The image exudes an atmosphere of order, professionalism, and intellectual focus, with a centered composition shot at desk height for visual clarity. The visual style is photographic realism with a clean, modern, and structured layout, perfectly aligning with the site's educational and research-driven purpose.

Nordisco Panel

The panel ….