Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Program

The Department of Language Science and Technology (LST) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) offers a comprehensive research profile in language sciences and linguistics, with special foci on Chinese, bilingualism, and Asian languages. The program aims to produce research results that merit a world-leading profile and have the potential to generate knowledge and applications that will benefit mankind in general.

Research Objectives

The research objectives of the program are:

• To understand how language is used in context, in vivo, with special reference to meaning-making by bilingual speakers and writers in Hong Kong and elsewhere in Greater China.
• To apply knowledge to language issues in Hong Kong, especially in relation to Chinese language and bilingual education.
• To train professionals and scholars who can play a crucial role in an increasingly competitive world characterized by multilingualism and multiculturalism.
• To build a solid scholarly foundation for the effective application of language use in the domains of business and education.

Research Direction

LST strives to gain a world-leading reputation in empirical, interdisciplinary research in language sciences by:

• Enhancing research capacity in computational and corpus linguistics, neurolinguistics, and cognitive sciences.
• Expanding international collaboration.
• Nurturing young scholars by targeting competitive external grants and producing top-quality publications in high-impact journals.

Major Research Programmes

The program covers various research areas, including:

• Applied linguistics, with special reference to bilingualism and communication, corporate communication, language assessment, and teaching Chinese as a foreign language.
• Chinese and East Asian linguistics, including comparative linguistics, Cantonese linguistics, and language typology.
• Computational and corpus linguistics, covering big data research on Chinese language sciences and digital humanities.
• Neurocognitive studies of language and clinical linguistics, including language acquisition, neurolinguistics, and speech production and perception.
• Translation and interpreting studies, focusing on corpus-based translation studies, translation pedagogies, and interpreting studies.

Research Areas

The program encompasses a wide range of research areas, including:

• Applied linguistics:
  • Bilingual education and second language learning
  • Chinese language curriculum development
  • Chinese language education
  • Language and society
  • Language policy and planning
  • Multilingualism
  • Plurilingual pedagogies and assessment
• Chinese and East Asian linguistics:
  • Cantonese linguistics/grammar
  • Chinese dialect studies
  • Comparative linguistics
  • Discourse analysis
  • Language typology
  • Lexical semantics
  • Morpho-syntax
  • Phonetics and phonology
• Computational and corpus linguistics:
  • Big data research on Chinese language sciences
  • Chinese language processing
  • Computational modelling of language changes and variations
  • Corpus-based approaches to linguistic theories
  • Digital humanities
• Neurocognitive studies of language and clinical linguistics:
  • Ageing
  • Amusia
  • Communication disorders
  • Developmental dyslexia
  • Language acquisition
  • Neurolinguistics
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Speech production and perception
• Translation and interpreting studies:
  • Corpus-based translation studies
  • Interpreting studies
  • Literary translation
  • Translation pedagogies

Research Facilities

The program has access to state-of-the-art research facilities, including:

• Speech and Language Sciences Laboratory (SLS Lab)
• Speech and Language Therapy Unit
• Translation Research Centre
• Computational Linguistics Research Team

Admission Requirements

Priority will be given to PhD applicants. The following supporting documents are required:

• Academic Referee's Report (two reports are compulsory)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Research Proposal (a standard form must be used)
• Transcript/Certificate (all academic qualifications, including Bachelor's degree and Master's degree, if any)

Study Information

The program offers:

• Full-time and part-time study modes
• English as the medium of instruction and thesis presentation
• A residence requirement

Application Procedures

The application period and deadline will be announced. Applicants can expect to receive an application result and offer, and must follow the guidelines for submitting supporting documents.

Fees and Support

The program has an application fee, and students are required to pay caution money, tuition fees, and other fees. Fellowship and scholarship opportunities, as well as financial assistance, are available.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the program are available, and applicants can also view other programs offered by the university.