Syntax and the body: the structuring of language in multimodal sense-making

A glossy silver laptop open to an academic presentation slide displaying schematic diagrams of syntax structures and body movement annotations, set on a smooth, pale wood conference table. In the background, translucent partitions, matte gray office chairs, and smartboards form a neutral and highly organized research environment. Daylight filtered through frosted glass panels creates balanced lighting and soft reflections on surfaces. The mood is focused, collaborative, and forward-thinking. Captured from a slightly elevated perspective, the laptop is framed slightly off-center using the rule of thirds, emphasizing both the device and the intentional workspace. The photograph embodies a sophisticated, corporate aesthetic that underscores contemporary international research.

Multimodal Grammar

This 6-year project challenges traditional rule-based views of syntax by arguing that syntax is grounded in embodied interaction across cultures. Using video-recorded interactions in six typologically diverse languages, we analyze coordinated syntactic and bodily patterns with methods from Conversation Analysis and Interactional Linguistics. The project develops an empirically based theory of embodied syntax, reveals cross-linguistic differences, and advances dialogic, functional accounts of language, with implications for language education and digital interaction design. The project is funded by a Research Environment Grant from the Swedish Research Council (no. 2024-01863).


About

Syntax, body, Materiality

An international collaboration examining how grammar and body interact in social interaction, using Conversation Analysis to reveal multimodal patterns across languages.

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A meticulously stacked arrangement of hardcover linguistics books with sleek, neutral-toned dust jackets, featuring subtle embossed titles and clean lines, placed on a crisply organized glass desk. The desk sits within a bright, contemporary corporate office lined with minimalist shelving and muted gray walls. Soft daylight pours in through large windows, casting diffused illumination evenly over the books and workspace while gentle shadows add dimension. The image exudes an atmosphere of order, professionalism, and intellectual focus, with a centered composition shot at desk height for visual clarity. The visual style is photographic realism with a clean, modern, and structured layout, perfectly aligning with the site's educational and research-driven purpose.
A set of interconnected clear acrylic cubes, each etched with minimalist icons of grammatical symbols, arrows, and gesture silhouettes, precisely aligned on a matte slate-gray table. The environment is a well-organized research meeting room with clean whiteboards and subtle accent lighting. Ambient daylight from narrow clerestory windows bathes the scene, creating gentle highlights on the transparent surfaces and structured reflections on the table. The mood is analytical and innovative, suggesting layers of meaning and complex interactions. The image is photographed at an eye-level angle with a symmetrical, balanced composition and sharp focus throughout. The style is clean and modern, reinforcing the project's interplay of structure and clarity.

Key themes explored

This section highlights research questions guiding the project, including grammar, embodiment, and multimodal sense-making across Swedish, German, Canadian, and Japanese contexts.

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