The Syntax Circle

We are happy to announce the establishment of the Syntax Circle!

The Syntax Circle brings together all (morpho)syntacticians working on formal linguistics in the Netherlands. Formal linguistics is the kind of research that is aimed specifically at contributing to knowledge about the formal, structural and conceptual properties of the faculty of language in general, as is – or used to be – customary in generative syntax and neighboring branches of theoretical linguistics. Every type of (linguistic) research has a theoretical and empirical side to it, obviously, to varying degrees. Formal linguistics usually relies on theoretical and comparative work, but it can also include experimental approaches. Other methodologies to collect data include field work, corpus studies and questionnaires.

The Syntax Circle aims to promote formal syntax. We facilitate meetings of formal linguists in the Netherlands, we promote their visibility and we discuss the role of formal linguistics in a changing society and scientific field. 

Theoretical linguistics nowadays co-exists with methodological and societal changes. Technological advances allowed computational and experimental linguistics to integrate powerful data-oriented methodologies. Society has put more emphasis on societal relevance for scientific approaches. The Syntax Circle welcomes these evolutions and aims to explore the opportunities they bring, but it also aims to emphasize the strengths and merits of theoretical research.

1. We aim to maintain a high level and substantial body of research in the domain of theoretical linguistics, and formal and generative syntax in the Netherlands.

2. We aim to advance the visibility of syntax, and theoretical research in linguistics more generally.

3. We aim to communicate the importance and strengths of theory-oriented linguistic research to other researchers, policy makers, and the general public.

4. We aim to branch out to other subdisciplines and collaborate with interfacing fields, such as theoretically informed sociolinguistics research, theoretically informed anthropological linguistics research, and linguistically informed mathematics.

5. We aim to advocate the merit of purely theoretical work, but we also encourage collaborations between theoretically-oriented colleagues and experimental researchers who work within formal approaches.

6. We aim to maintain a substantial amount of formal linguistics in curricula of language and linguistics programs both at the Ba and (Re)Ma level. 

7. We aim to promote younger and future generations of formal linguists. We encourage PhD students and their projects and are curious to learn about their ideas.

8. We aim to integrate formal linguistics in Dutch and modern foreign languages at secondary schools and we aim for collaborations with teacher training programs and researchers in subject pedagogy of the school subjects Dutch and modern foreign languages.

9. We aim to meet each other regularly (minimally, twice a year) to discuss both subject content and strategical issues of formal linguistics in a changing world.

10. We aim to inform each other about ongoing projects, research results and scientific trends in formal linguistics in the Netherlands.

11. The Syntax Circle is primarily a collaboration between formal linguists in the Netherlands. However, researchers from outside the Netherlands (e.g., Belgium, Germany) who maintain close scientific relationships with Syntax Circle members can also be part of the Syntax Circle and participate in Syntax Circle activities.
    

More information can be found on the Syntax Circle website