The Research Institute for Linguistics and Literature at the University of Santiago de Compostela (iLTIUS) seeks to consolidate the expertise and research potential of its founding and future members into a broad-based unit of excellence. This unit aims to become a national and international reference point for research and to gain access to competitive research funding, aligning fully with university research policies.
The research agenda, summarized below, is defined by its multilingual character—addressing a wide range of ancient and modern Indo-European languages—and its multidisciplinary approach, which draws from theoretical and applied linguistics, literary studies, gender studies, computational and statistical analysis, anthropology, philosophy, and psycholinguistics. It is structured around five complementary and transdisciplinaryresearch challenges, formulated in accordance with the current expertise of iLTIUS researchers, without excluding any future lines of inquiry that respond to evolving cultural and societal demands.
All challenges align with regional, national, and European R&D&I priorities and are informed by the ERC Work Programme 2024 and Spain’s National Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2024–2027 (PEICTI).
Challenge 1: Language and Cognition
This challenge addresses fundamental questions about language and the mental processes involved in its acquisition and retention. It explores relationships between language and thought, communicative identity construction, and standard language varieties. Its transdisciplinary scope integrates linguistics, psychology, philosophy, sociology, and ethnography. Advances in this area also intersect with developments in artificial intelligence.
Aligned with ERC Panel SH4: The Human Mind and Its Complexity and SH3: The Social World and Its Interactions.
Axes:
- 1.1 Linguistic Variation and Diachrony
- 1.2 Languages, Identities, and Ideologies
Challenge 2: Linguistic and Communicative Competence
Focused on first and second language acquisition, this challenge develops tools for language teaching and assessment, including annotated corpora of native and non-native speakers. It also investigates multilingual environments arising from globalization and migration, promoting intercultural and interlinguistic mediation in public domains.
Related to ERC Panel SH3 and PEICTI areas: Immigration, Integration, Multiculturalism, Diversity, and Philology, Linguistics, Literature.
Axes:
- 2.1 Language Processing, Acquisition, and Teaching
- 2.2 Linguistic Mediation and Translation
Challenge 3: Literary Heritage—Tradition and Innovation
This challenge studies literary texts in their intrinsic textual dimension and extrinsic sociocultural context. It connects European and Latin American literary traditions to society across history, with a focus on colonial/postcolonial periods and migration literature.
Linked to ERC Panels SH5: Texts and Concepts and SH8: Studies of Cultures and Arts. Supports innovation, open access, gender equality, and inclusive research practices per PEICTI.
Axes:
- 3.1 Textual Editing
- 3.2 Literary History, Canon, and Reception
- 3.3 Literature and Cultural Systems
Challenge 4: Gender and Diversity
This challenge reconstructs the foundational role of women in cultural heritage, with an emphasis on ancient/medieval contributions and modern/contemporary women writers, especially Galician authors. It critically addresses gender stereotypes and raises awareness of these by means of sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and discourse analysis.
Falls under ERC Panels SH3, SH5, SH8; aligns with UN SDG 5 and PEICTI’s strategic area on Gender Equality and Diversity.
Axes:
- 4.1 Gender, Women, and Men
- 4.2 Gender Stereotypes and Linguistic Awareness
Challenge 5: Technologies and Digitalization
This challenge engages with the digital transformation in the humanities and social sciences—data storage, analysis tools, and the open dissemination of language heritage.
Corresponds with ERC Panel PE6: Computer Science and Informatics and UN SDG 8. PEICTI relevance: Digital Communication, Digital Transition, and Artificial Intelligence.
Axes:
- 5.1 Corpus Linguistics
- 5.2 Literature and Digital Technologies