Peter W. Culicover

Internationally recognized authority on linguistic theory and the cognitive science of language. Recent work challenges basic assumptions and explores options where the syntactic component is less elaborate than in standard views, and where learnability and processing complexity help constrain syntactic structure. Syntactic Nuts (1999) examines a wide variety of idiosyncratic constructions of English that challenge prevailing theories of language learning and Dynamical Grammar (2003), offers concrete computational implementations of learning theory. Co-authored Simpler Syntax (2005), proposing a major makeover of syntactic theory. Has studied calculation of processing complexity of sentences, and how such complexity accounts for phenomena heretofore regarded as purely matters of syntactic stipulation. Written several textbooks and has helped develop cognitive science through conference organizing and administrative efforts at Ohio State. Recipient, Humboldt Research Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.