CBS' language technologists bridge language gaps

Language researchers and technologists from all over Europe will visit the Copenhagen Speech Event 2013. CBS will take the opportunity to display CBS as a research institution with focus on the needs of society and companies through CBS' new research platform ”The Bridge”.

Commmunication gaps can have a destructive effect

The Bridge refers to the act of bridging communication gaps - in particular when these gaps destroys or limits value creation in society. The Bridge is affiliated with the Department of International Business Communication (IBC) at CBS and is a result of a number of large readjustments, says Peter Juel Henrichsen, Associate Professor and Director of The Bridge:

- Not so long ago, IBC reorganised the linguistic areas of expertise and disciplines. We used to have academic groups for each language, but we needed to rethink the basic values of language research. At CBS, we started to work with linguistics on a broader basis to adapt our research to the needs of society. At the same time, we established The Bridge. I am one in fifteen researchers who work with applied language technology.

Breaks with conventional linguistics

Traditionally, linguistics is about applying results in its own environment, while CBS' language research has been aimed directly at the trouble spots in society, says Peter Juel Henrichsen, who wants to contribute a new understanding of linguistics and what it can be in a societal perspective:

- Some people focus on punctuation and sloppy speech habits. We focus on applied language technology. We are in close contact with Danish and foreign developers of speech technology in a project where speech technology has eased the work of 30,000 doctors in the Nordic countries. Instead of dictating and then enter in the journal, the dictaphone will recognise the speech and upload it to the e-journal. Now, that is applied linguistics, says Peter Juel Henrichsen.

Another project in the pipeline is a Skype add-on, which will assist with cultural and linguistic problems. At the Copenhagen Speech Event 2013, The Bridge will also present a number of themes within applied language technology such as speech recognition within other academic domains and intelligent linguistic web solutions.

Practical information

The Copenhagen Speech Event 2013 is organised in collaboration with CBS and the University of Copenhagen (KU).
The conference will take place at CBS on 18-20 March and 20-22 March at KU.
CBS' Business in Society platforms on sustainability and public-private collaboration will also contribute workshops at the conference.

Contact: Ea Ørum, Journalist: +45 27 12 52 00