When there’s more than one elephant in the room: Interdisciplinary approaches to the study of language

Abstract

This concise overview paper introduces the work done by the Out Of Our Minds research group at the University of Birmingham, highlighting the need for organic interdisciplinarity in contemporary language science. By summarizing two case studies, we underscore the need for compatible methodologies that address shared research objectives. Despite initial enthusiasm for a multidisciplinary approach to language in the 1950s, subsequent research efforts often remained confined within specific scientific traditions. Recently, however, we have been witnessing a resurgence of these foundational ideas. Crucially, Out Of Our Minds embodies a paradigm shift where linguists leverage rigorous operationalizations to test key theoretical notions, while psychologists broaden their understanding of empirical phenomena with ecological relevance and purposefulness. By synergizing the strengths of both disciplines, we advance our understanding of the complex and dynamic system of human language.