Anna Maria Di Sciullo facts for kids

Anna Maria Di Sciullo, born in 1951, is a smart professor. She teaches about languages at the Université du Québec à Montréal in Canada. She also visits New York University to do research. She studies how language works in three main ways: how we build sentences (Theoretical Linguistics), how computers can understand language (Computational Linguistics), and how our brains and biology are linked to language (Biolinguistics).

What She Researches

Dr. Di Sciullo's work helps us understand language better. She looks at how different parts of language fit together. She has written books about her ideas.

How We Build Sentences (Theoretical Linguistics)

Dr. Di Sciullo studies something called "asymmetry" in language. This means that parts of language are not always perfectly balanced. For example, in a sentence, the subject and the verb might have different roles. Her research helps us understand how words are formed and how they get their meaning.

Computers and Language (Computational Linguistics)

She also works with computers and language. She helped create a special computer program. This program can understand sentences by looking at these "asymmetrical" relationships. She also made a search engine that uses these ideas. It helps find information based on how words are connected. She even developed a system to find meaning in text.

Language and Our Brains (Biolinguistics)

Dr. Di Sciullo explores how our brains handle language. She studies how our brains react to these "asymmetries" in language. She also looks at how our experiences change the way we use language. She has written many articles and books about this field. Her work helps connect biology, linguistics, and bioinformatics.

Since 1998, she has led big research projects. These projects have received a lot of money from the Canadian government. In 2004, she started a group called the Federation on Natural Language Processing. This group brings together experts in language, computers, and technology. In 2007, she started another group. It is called the International Network on Biolinguistics.

She has received many important awards and honors. In 1999, she became a member of the Royal Society of Canada. This is a very special honor for top researchers. She also won a research award from the University of Quebec in 2001. She has been a visiting scholar at famous universities like Harvard and MIT. In 2016, she received the André Laurendeau award. Recently, she was nominated for a special innovation award from the Governor General of Canada.

Awards and Nominations

• 2017 Nominated for the Canadian Governor General award for innovation
• 2016 Andre Laurendeau Award, ACFAS, Government of Quebec.
• 2015 Ambassador of Abruzzi in the world, Government of Italy.
• 2005-2018 Dynamic Interfaces (FQRSC I, II, III), Government of Quebec, $1.2M.
• 2007 Founder and Director of the International Network in Biolinguistics.
• 2003-2012 Interface Asymmetries (MCRI), SSHRC, Government of Canada, $2.5M.
• 2004 Founder and President of the Federation on Natural Language Processing
• 2001-2004 Natural language processing (VRQ), Government of Quebec, $1.2M.
• 1999 Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
• 1998-2003 Natural Language Asymmetries (MCRI), SSHRC, Government of Canada, $1.8M.
• 1992-1996 The Modularity of Grammar: arguments, projections and variation, SSHRC, Government of Canada, $629577.
• 1990 Award for Excellence in Research, awarded by the board of Governors of the University of Quebec.