Mission Statement

Language and music are icons of human cooperation, adaptability, creativity and joy. Language is a communication tool, and modern communications have transformed the very idea of language. Language Music and Communication, a research unit of the Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems (NICO), brings together scientists and engineers in research on human communication systems at all levels, from physics to biology to minds and societies. Special strengths include L1 and L2 acquisition, analogies and interactions between language and music, and auditory and visual modalities.



Janet Pierrehumbert, Director