Mathematical Structures in Generative Linguistics

Explore the fascinating intersection of mathematics and linguistics in this colloquium talk by Matilde Marcolli from Caltech. Delve into the mathematical structures underlying generative linguistics, from formal language theory to advanced concepts involving Hopf algebras and geometric spaces. Discover how these mathematical tools are applied to model language production, parsing, variability, and universal principles across human languages. Gain insights into the lesser-known applications of algebraic and geometric structures in linguistics, drawing parallels with their use in theoretical physics. Learn about the evolution of mathematical approaches in linguistics, from early developments to cutting-edge methods used in modeling semantics and syntactic variation among different languages.