Kaltxì, ma frapo!
I wanted to let you know about a linguistic study concerning constructed languages taking place in November at MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, that some of you could take part in!
Here’s a brief description:
We are researchers in the McGovern Institute for Brain Research and the Brain and Cognitive Sciences department at MIT and we are interested in how the human brain processes language (evlab.mit.edu).
One research question we would like to ask is whether the processing of constructed languages (conlangs) recruits the same mechanisms as those supporting the processing of natural languages. To do this, we need to test (in an fMRI scanner) speakers / learners of conlangs. The testing would take place in Boston in November 2022 (exact dates TBD) and will likely be combined with an MIT-CONLANG event (with special guests, like the creators of some of the languages and/or famous users). We will also subsidize travel expenses for those selected for participation.
The date of the MIT Conlang event has now been set: Friday, November 11. And Na’vi will be part of the study!
If you’re an intermediate-to-advanced Na’vi learner/speaker and you’d like to come to Boston, with travel expenses subsidized, to participate in the event, fill out this form online:
https://mit.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aaDQw3jpWRyOmN0
Don’t be concerned that Na’vi isn’t mentioned on the form; we were added later. Just check the Other box and fill in Na’vi.
The original announcement about this study was made on Twitter, and a few members of the Na’vi community heard about it and have already applied. It would be great if we could get more participants!
I’ll be there myself on Nov. 11 to participate in a panel discussion. Nìsìlpey tsìyevun oe hu eylan a ta lì’fyaolo’ awngeyä ultxa sivi tsatseng!!
Hayalovay!
ta Pawl
UPDATE: Just to be clear, if you’re chosen to participate in the study, you will not be asked to produce Na’vi, either in oral or written form! Rather, you’ll listen to some recorded material and simply be asked to comprehend it, while your brain is being monitored. That might be encouraging to people whose comprehension of spoken Na’vi is good but who feel less confident about speaking themselves.
I signed up for this a while ago and was told that in case they can manage it with the budget they have they will try to get me to the USA for this. Currently I’m checking my mailbox multiple times a day because they said they would tell me more at the beginning of September, and now that I know you will be there I am even more excited about this! I really hope I’ll be lucky enough to be invited 😀
-ta Tekre
Ma Tekre, wou! Txantsan nìwotx! I wasn’t aware they might be sponsoring travel from Europe, but it would be SO GREAT to see you and some of our other European Sulfätu Lì’fyayä there! Although I don’t know what their current funding situation is like, I’ll be more than happy to put in a good word for you. Hope the invitation comes through!
I just got the mail – I’m gonna be there!
Fantastic!!!
Since I am mildly claustrophobic, I (and possibly others) would be interested in knowing if this is going to be done in an open MRI machine, rather than a closed one. Believe me, being able to see out even a tiny bit makes a huge difference! I realize that you probably don’t have any idea, yourself, regarding this detail, but perhaps you could refer me (us?) to someone more likely to know. Irayo!
You’re right–I have no idea. But let me see if I can find that out for you.
In the language of ice and fire discord someone showed a mail they got regarding the requirements participants should fullfil. It was not said if it’s an open or closed MRI machine, but the second requirement directly is “You do not experience claustrophobia”, so that might be a bad sign :/
Irayo nìtxan, ma Tekre! I guess I won’t see you there, but I hope you can participate. 🙂
Really sorry you won’t be there. But you’ll be there in spirit. (And I was just thinking about how to say “in spirit” in Na’vi. Not *mì sirea. Better: an adverbial expression, equivalent to “spirit-ly.” Nìtirea, which could easily have evolved to nìtrea. What do you think? 😊 )
Beautiful! <3 I will definitely be there nìtrea!
Sìltsana fmawn nìtxan nang! I had been hesitating for a long time if I wanted to participate, but hearing that you and hopefully other members of the lì’fyaolo’ will be there too, made me decide to also fill out the application. Fingers crossed I get admitted!