About

Our mission

Our overarching mission is to understand what are the causal links between (1) children’s experiences and (2) language outcomes via (3) the child’s learning and processing mechanisms. Defining children’s experiences, learning and processing mechanisms, and language outcomes is not straightforward, and is part of our discussions. Moreover, both these definitions and the causal processes involved are complex, with social and cultural factors affecting all of them, and with potentially complicated feedback loops that assure the child an active role. In this complex setting, relevant research may not include all three key aspects (experiences, outcomes, mechanisms).

Our aim is to understand these causal links for as many diverse languages and populations as possible, and not just the populations that are more commonly studied (typically-developing children growing up in USA/Western Europe).

To this end, we discuss the development of toolkits and theories with a concern that they be adaptable across languages and cultures, and that they can shed light on individuals’ language learning environments and trajectories.

This does not mean all LangVIEW members agree on what the toolkits and theories could be; for instance, some of us believe word checklists can play this role and others do not. In fact, some members believe it is impossible to capture individual development in a standardized way!

Additionally, we are all open to hearing about when a theory or toolkit does not “work” in some language and culture, as we believe such limits can be insightful.

Some of our members are also members of other networks (see Language acquisition networks, initiatives, and resources for a growing list). LangVIEW’s unique angle is that it is built around a single conceptual question (the causal link between experiences and outcomes).

Our shorter term goals

Our overarching mission is ambitious. To make our progress visible, we have selected the following goals for the period 2026-2030:

1. Hold a monthly seminar. Presenters and/or discussants will have experience with underrepresented languages and cultural backgrounds. Content will vary (lexicon, phonology, etc.) and presenters may or may not be academic research(ers). The seminar organizers are Irena Lovčević and Aniruddha Walke. Please get in touch with them about presenting your own work, or suggesting someone else.

2. Support local/regional groups to set up local chapters under the LangVIEW banner. The board members leading in this goal are Caro Rowland and Shoba Meera. Contact them for more information on this initiative.

3. Liaise with professional organizations/societies and other relevant international, national and/or regional groups to summarize extant initiatives to increase diversity, assess evidence for barriers to diversity, and potential impact of possible changes. The board members leading in this goal is Eon-Suk Ko. Contact them for more information on this initiative.

4. Establish a list of experts and/or resources to be maintained on the LangVIEW website. The board members leading in this goal are Shoba Meera and Andrew Ssemata. Contact them for more information on this initiative.