| Thesis Proposal 4. Language and Literature | Researchers | Research Group |
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Chinese and Sinophone literatures
Research on contemporary Chinese and/or Sinophone literatures, particularly (but not exclusively) related to the representation of otherness, social tensions, or interactions between the Sinophone and Western worlds. Approaches to these aspects from the perspectives of comparative literature, translation studies, critical theory, intellectual history, and thought.
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Email: cprado@uoc.edu |
ALTER |
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Conceptual Metaphor Studies
We conduct research on Conceptual Metaphor Theory and its applications to the analysis of conceptualizations or discourses in specific fields, particularly health and mental health. The research topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
Our current research project in this area focuses on mental health. More information can be found here: MOMENT Project. |
Email: mcollfl@uoc.edu |
GRIAL |
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Neural Machine Translation: Technical Aspects and Integration
Neural machine translation systems have significantly improved the quality of results, but there are still many aspects to investigate and enhance. This PhD research line is broad and includes both system training aspects and its integration into professional translation environments. Research can also include topics related to post-editing processes and the use of neural machine translation in translating creative and literary texts.
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Dr. Antoni Oliver
Email: aoliverg@uoc.edu
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GRIAL |
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Automatic Terminology Extraction: Applying Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Techniques
This is a broad research proposal exploring machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques applied to automatic terminology extraction and the automatic search for translation equivalents in parallel and comparable corpora.
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Dr. Antoni Oliver
Email: aoliverg@uoc.edu
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GRIAL |
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Global Literary Studies Research Laboratory
The Global Literary Studies Research Laboratory analyzes literary history from a global, decentralized, and interdisciplinary perspective. This approach allows us to observe cultural and literary phenomena that transcend national frameworks and can be studied within broader configurations. From a perspective of gender, ethics, and digital humanities, we pursue our objectives through four main research lines:
Global Translation Flows:
The Global Novel:
Global Literary Environments:
Global Cinema:
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Email: dsanzr@uoc.edu
Email: lfolica@uoc.edu
Email: nrotgerc@uoc.edu
Dr. Aurea Mota
Email: amotad@uoc.edu
Email: aclariana@uoc.edu
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GlobaLS |
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Contemporary Catalan Literature
This research group focuses on Catalan literature from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. We conduct both contextual and theoretical studies with a particular emphasis on sociological aspects. We also encourage comparative studies between Catalan literature and other literary systems. The group's researchers examine the following topics:
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Email: rcanadell@uoc.edu Email: tiribarren@uoc.edu Email: ogassol@uoc.edu |
LiCMES |
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Specialized Communication: Linguistic Strategies to Enhance Comprehension of Specialized Texts
Communication between experts in a field and non-expert recipients has always been a complex issue with potential challenges. The cognitive domains of both interlocutors differ, and the originator must be able to adapt their discourse to make it understandable for the non-specialist recipient.
This research line aims to analyze, from a linguistic perspective, the factors that specialists should consider when writing texts within their field of expertise but intended for non-experts. The goal is to identify the linguistic strategies necessary to avoid comprehension issues that may hinder effective communication. Although the study is primarily linguistic, it also considers the cognitive dimension of specialized communication.
The proposed fields for research are law and medicine, as it is vital that recipients have a clear understanding of the texts they receive in these areas. However, other specialized fields may also be agreed upon.
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Email: odomenechb@uoc.edu |
IdentiCat |
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Lexical Innovation in the Current Information and Knowledge Society
The technical revolution experienced by society in recent decades has led to profound transformations that have had a significant impact on language, especially in terms of linguistic change. Today, Web 3.0 enables new words to circulate on the internet and spread massively among millions of users, who are often individuals.
Given these circumstances, it seems logical to hypothesize that the use of social networks is impacting both the processes of new word formation and the rate of neological change in languages (in terms of accelerating or increasing it).
This research line aims to validate or refute these claims by analyzing neologisms sourced from social networks to determine the current trends followed by languages in lexical innovation processes. It is also open to studying lexical creativity in general, both from a theoretical perspective and through case studies.
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Email: odomenechb@uoc.edu Email: amoralesmore@uoc.edu |
GRIAL | IdentiCat |
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Computational Lexicography Studies
Computational Lexicography Studies focus on terminology, linguistic resources, and natural language processing tools from a multilingual and interdisciplinary perspective. The research topics include, but are not limited to:
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Email: mvazquezga@uoc.edu Email: amoralesmore@uoc.edu |
GRIAL |
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Didactics of Language and Literature
Didactics of Language and Literature (DLL) is a discipline that spans pre-university educational levels (Infant, Primary, Secondary Education, and Baccalaureate), as well as university-level teaching (Undergraduate, Master's, Postgraduate) and adult education, both formal and informal (EOI, courses for migrants, continuing education, etc.).
Within this multi-level framework, we propose the following research lines in DLL from a non-androcentric perspective and committed to the Sustainable Development Goals:
1. Language didactics:
- Teaching and learning languages in multilingual contexts (L1, L2)
- Didactics of foreign languages, such as ELE or CLE.
2. Literature didactics:
- Literary education in multicultural contexts: theory, methodologies, practices.
- The sociocultural dimension of literature, canon, and educational curriculum.
- Interrelation of literature with other disciplines in educational practice.
3. Educational sociolinguistics:
- Didactics of sociolinguistics
- Linguistic attitudes, beliefs, etc., of the educational community (teachers, students, families, etc.).
4. Resources for DLL:
- Analysis of existing didactic materials and creation of new resources, both analog and digital.
- Digital humanities and their applications to DLL.
5. Intersection of language, literature, and culture in educational practice.
6. DLL from a historical, transnational, or comparative perspective.
7. DLL and reading promotion.
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Email: mlacueval@uoc.edu
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Multilingualism and Intersectionality
The IdentiCat research group includes a team of sociolinguists interested in understanding how linguistic diversity is intertwined with the production and reproduction of social inequalities. Specifically, we are concerned with how inequalities related to languages intersect with other axes of inequality, such as gender, sexuality, social class, race, functional diversity, etc.
In particular, we are interested in developing the concept of subjectivity as applied to linguistic practices, as well as exploring new contributions from post-materialism and post-humanism to understand how spaces of agency can be created for subaltern subjects, and how language policies can be integrated with other equality policies at all levels.
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Email: jpujolar@uoc.edu |
IdentiCat |
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Automatic Speech-to-Text and Speech-to-Speech Translation
This research focuses on training and fine-tuning techniques for models used in speech-to-text and speech-to-speech translation. The aim is to study two specific applications: scientific and academic communication and the performing arts. In addition to examining technical aspects of translation models, the research also seeks to analyze possible output devices for using these applications: projectors, mobile devices, smart glasses, etc.
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Dr. Antoni Oliver
Email: aoliverg@uoc.edu
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GRIAL |
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Theater, Gender, and Sexuality
Thesis proposals are welcome in the field of Catalan theater, particularly from a gender and sexuality perspective.
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Email: anicolauj@uoc.edu |
LiCMES |
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Critical Sociolinguistics
This research line addresses sociolinguistic studies, focusing on language not as a code but as a social practice (Halliday; Hymes; Gumperz) from a conflictual or critical perspective where individuals compete to gain and mobilize linguistic resources according to their interests (Bourdieu; Heller; Duchêne). We explore what linguistic practices mean for individuals in a world characterized by economic tertiarization, increased mobility of people, goods, and images, as well as new forms of governance. The Horizon Multistuali (MultiLX) project aims to study everyday linguistic practices, both analog and digital, and linguistic ideologies.
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Email: mpuigdevallse@uoc.edu Email: jpujolar@uoc.edu |
IdentiCat |
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Institutional Discourse Analysis
This research line focuses on the analysis of discourse in institutional settings, both at supranational (EU, UN, etc.) and national levels (parliaments, legislative chambers, organizations, etc.). The goal is to analyze the relationships of power, legitimacy, and authority through language, as well as the social and political implications of discursive practices carried out by public and private institutions.
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Email: amoralesmore@uoc.edu |
GRIAL |
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Plain Language and Clear Communication
The research line in Plain Language (PL) and clear communication focuses on studying and applying clear, accessible communication models for citizens, particularly in administrative and legal contexts. The objective is to simplify institutional documentation and identify best practices to enhance the clarity of administrative language. We collaborate on projects such as using eye-tracking technology to improve the accessibility of administrative texts.
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Email: odomenechb@uoc.edu Email: amoralesmore@uoc.edu |
IdentiCat | GRIAL |
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Legal and Institutional Translation
Legal and institutional translation is a crucial field for intercultural communication. These contexts require precision and terminological adequacy to ensure the legal security of the system and the rights of citizens. This research line offers doctoral students the opportunity to explore translation in legal-administrative contexts at both supranational and national levels. This research addresses the translation of specialized texts (normative texts, contracts, court rulings, or institutional documents, among others) that must maintain accuracy while considering cultural and normative differences among stakeholders.
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Email: amoralesmore@uoc.edu Email: odomenechb@uoc.edu Email: mvazquezga@uoc.edu |
GRIAL IdentiCat |
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Contemporary Literary Narratives: Comparative Perspectives
This research focuses on contemporary literary narrative studies with theoretical approaches from comparatism, novel studies, narrative theory, gender studies, and ethics. As part of the current research project "Narratives of the Margins of Europe (NAME)", we welcome thesis proposals on narrative fiction and non-fiction literature from the 1990s to the present, with a particular focus on the literary cultures of Southern and Eastern Europe.
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Email: nrotgerc@uoc.edu
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GlobaLS |