We study language evolution

The Centre for Language Evolution is an interdisciplinary centre at the University of Edinburgh based within the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. Our aim is to understand the origins and evolution of language using a combination of laboratory techniques, computational simulation, and mathematical modelling, drawing on data from language development, change, variation and emergence. We grew out of the Language Evolution and Computation research unit, which was founded in 1997.

The CLE currently houses 14 staff and around 30 postgraduate students working on language evolution. You can find us on the first floor of the Dugald Stewart Building, 3 Charles St, Edinburgh, EH8 9AD.

The old website of the Language Evolution and Computation Research Unit can still be found over here.