IIT Madras Launches ‘Language and Cognition Lab’ to Study India’s Linguistic Diversity

On November 10, 2025, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) inaugurated the ‘Language and Cognition Laboratory’ (LC-Lab) to explore the rich linguistic diversity of India through an interdisciplinary and technology-driven approach. This lab, established within the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, is the first of its kind in India, focusing on experimental linguistics.

Inauguration and Objectives

The inauguration ceremony was led by Prof. V. Kamakoti, the Director of IIT Madras, alongside Prof. Rajesh Kumar, the Head of the HSS Department, and Dr. Anindita Sahoo, the Faculty Coordinator of the lab. The primary aim of the LC-Lab is to investigate how humans perceive, process, and produce language using advanced experimental methods. In the long run, it seeks to contribute to the development of human-centered and linguistically aware artificial intelligence (AI) systems, ensuring that India’s languages and cultures are represented in emerging technologies.

Collaboration with CeRAI

The Language and Cognition Laboratory will closely collaborate with the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras. This partnership will focus on applying AI methods to research in language and cognition, highlighting the lab’s commitment to interdisciplinary research.

Significance of the Lab

Prof. V. Kamakoti emphasized the necessity of such interdisciplinary research, stating, “Linguistics is increasingly moving toward empirical, data-driven inquiry, combining methodologies from the sciences and humanities. India needed a dedicated facility that integrated linguistic theory with modern experimental and computational tools.” The establishment of the LC-Lab aims to fill this gap by creating a space that connects linguistics, cognitive science, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, ultimately contributing to the development of socially relevant, linguistically informed technologies.

Research Focus

The LC-Lab will employ various experimental techniques, including eye-tracking and reaction-time studies, to investigate how individuals process linguistic information. The research will primarily focus on Indian languages, providing critical insights into the understanding and production of grammar, voice, and sentence structure in multilingual contexts.

• Current Projects: Ongoing projects are studying grammatical voice and copula constructions.
• Future Research: Upcoming studies will explore dyslexia in Indian children, aiming to enhance educational outcomes and develop linguistically relevant teaching interventions.

Faculty Insights

Dr. Anindita Sahoo, the Faculty Coordinator, remarked, “The Language and Cognition Laboratory (LC-Lab) is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research in language and cognition through the use of technologies that reveal behavioral patterns and enable data-driven understanding of human interaction.”

Technological Integration

The LC-Lab’s interdisciplinary framework integrates insights from science, technology, and the humanities to advance both academic research and technological innovation. In the short term, the lab will conduct experimental research using eye-tracking technology to validate established linguistic theories in Indian languages. Over the long term, it plans to incorporate advanced neurocognitive techniques such as:

• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

These advanced tools will facilitate comprehensive research in language, cognition, and computational modeling while fostering collaboration with experts in psychology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence.

Support and Infrastructure

The establishment of the LC-Lab is supported by IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation and Aspire Infolab, Hyderabad, which have contributed to its infrastructure and research capabilities. The inauguration event also included a symposium featuring a panel discussion titled ‘Language for Thought: Exploring Interdisciplinary Dimensions,’ which highlighted the lab’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration across various fields.

Conclusion

The launch of the Language and Cognition Laboratory at IIT Madras marks a significant step towards understanding and preserving India’s linguistic diversity. By employing innovative research methods and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the LC-Lab aims to contribute valuable insights into language and cognition that can inform the development of future technologies.

Note: The information presented in this article is based on the press release from IIT Madras and aims to provide an overview of the newly launched Language and Cognition Laboratory.