Language norms are more complex than you think
Many people assume that ‘groter als’ is not correct Dutch, but some language advisers say that it’s fine. Language advisers often contradict one another, as linguist Marten van der Meulen notes in his PhD dissertation.
Physician’s positive language use reduces anxiety among patients with unexplained symptoms
General practitioners regularly see patients with persistent physical symptoms (PPS) that have no clear explanation. But researcher Inge Stortenbeker found that a physician’s use of language and choice of words can influence how anxious patients get.
‘A good death’ in the daily press
Newspaper articles provide an insight into what we consider a ‘good’ or ‘dignified’ death. According to research, the articles have revealed that, in the case of the elderly, a good death is primarily associated with a self-chosen end of life.
When language does not speak for itself: research on Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
About seven per cent of children in the Netherlands have a Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Linguist Imme Lammertink studies the influence of the language environment on these children, focussing specifically on children's peer language input.
