Seminar Series 1, 2012

Theme: TBA

The series will commence soon. The seminars are free and are open to all members of the public. The series program will be available here as soon as it is finalised. Seminars are webcast live

Special seminar: Monday 13th February 2012, 12:00pm


Cognitive Impact of Grammatical Divisions, Professor Michael Katz, University of Haifa, Israel

Abstract:  'In Hebrew (and several other languages) nouns are divided into masculine and feminine and verbs into 'light' and 'heavy'.  I present studies investigating how such divisions effect perception and cognition of objects and actions. In the past this played a role in the revival of the Hebrew language, and it should be of interest to see whether or not it can also be applied to currently endangered languages.'                 

Background:  Prof Katz's seminar will be of interest to anyone with an interest in endangered languages, contact linguistics and the history of languages.  It has particular relevance to projects to preserve, revive and maintain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.  Prof Katz has held senior academic positions in the fields of psychology, education and mathematics at leading Israeli and international universities, including in Israel at the Hebrew University, Haifa University and Bar Ilan University, in England at Oxford University, in Canada at Queens University, and in the United States at the University of California, Berkely and San Francisco State University.  He has also edited prestigious Hebrew academic journals such as 'Studies in Education' and 'Studies in Educational Management and Organisation'.

Watch the webcast.