We live in an era of unprecedented global connectedness. As such, it is more crucial than ever to understand how we process language(s) and how this is shaped by—and shapes—our use of technologies.
We are frequently told that ‘language is important’—in this Research Topic, we explore recent advances in the understanding of language processing, the role of new technologies and platforms, and individual differences.
Further, we consider how language/a better understanding of language processing can enable us to build communities, educational environments, work and therapeutic contexts more effectively, as well as tackling ongoing global challenges.
We aim to collate a suite of articles which present the latest advances in our understanding of language in digital environments. This includes language perception and/or production; language learning; verbal, written, and/or signed language; the role of pictographs (i.e., emojis); and computer-mediated communication.
We also aim to include research which represents individual differences within perception/production of language, including but not limited to: autism spectrum conditions, alexithymia, clinical and non-clinical aging, as well as other developmental differences (clinical and sub-clinical).
We encourage authors to submit original research which considers, among other things:
• online and offline processing of language
• the interaction between pictorial and non-pictorial information on processing
• models of language processing
• emerging technologies and platforms
• language in the context of United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goals.
We particularly encourage submissions from authors who have employed digital data collection methods—for example, online surveys, online experiments, and secondary analyses of open data sets. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses will also be considered. We particularly encourage authors to make their data sets and codes available as supplementary materials, where possible.