IIT Madras launches 'Language and Cognition Lab' to study India's Linguistic Diversity and Develop Linguistically Informed AI

IIT Madras launches 'Language and Cognition Lab' to study India's Linguistic Diversity and Develop Linguistically Informed AI

Analysis:

1. Lab Inauguration: IIT Madras inaugurated the Language and Cognition Laboratory (LC-Lab) within its Department of Humanities and Social Sciences on 10th November 2025. The facility is India’s first dedicated to systematically studying the country’s linguistic diversity using an interdisciplinary, technology-driven approach.
2. Research Focus: The lab will investigate how individuals perceive, process, and produce language, with a primary focus on Indian languages. Techniques such as eye-tracking and reaction-time studies will be employed to understand grammar and sentence structure in multilingual contexts.
3. Interdisciplinary Approach: LC-Lab integrates linguistics, cognitive science, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, bridging the gap between humanities and technology to produce socially relevant, linguistically informed innovations.
4. Technology and AI Applications: A key objective is to contribute to the development of human-centred, linguistically aware AI systems that incorporate Indian languages and cultural nuances, ensuring inclusive representation in emerging technologies.
5. Leadership and Vision: Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, emphasized the importance of connecting scientific and humanistic research. Dr. Anindita Sahoo, Faculty Coordinator, highlighted the lab’s role in using technology to analyse behavioural patterns and enable data-driven understanding of human interaction.

Static Part:

• Institution: IIT Madras, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Lab: Language and Cognition Laboratory (LC-Lab)
• Date of Inauguration: 10 November 2025
• Key Officials: Prof. V. Kamakoti (Director, IIT Madras), Dr. Anindita Sahoo (Faculty Coordinator)
• Focus Areas: Indian languages, multilingual cognition, AI development, interdisciplinary research, eye-tracking and reaction-time studies

Updated: 14 Nov 2025; 4:29 PM | Source:PIB