Napoleon Katsos

Professor Napoleon Katsos is Professor of Experimental Linguistics at the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Trinity College. His expertise lies in experimental pragmatics, with a focus on semantics, pragmatics, and language acquisition in monolingual and bilingual populations, including neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals.

Education and Affiliations:

• Professor of Experimental Linguistics, University of Cambridge
• Fellow, Trinity College, Cambridge
• Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics

Research Interests:

Professor Katsos's research bridges theoretical linguistics and experimental methods, particularly in semantics and pragmatics. He investigates how implicature, presupposition, and quantification are acquired and processed by children and adults, including those with atypical development. A significant portion of his work explores bilingualism and its cognitive and linguistic implications, leading to the founding of the Cambridge Bilingualism Network and initiatives like WeSpeakMulti.

His recent projects include "The Impact of Bilingualism and Bi-dialectalism on Cognitive and Linguistic Development (BiBi)" and "Multilingualism: Empowering Individuals, Transforming Societies (MEITS)", funded by major bodies such as AHRC, the British Academy, and ESRC.

Recent Research Trends:

His 2024-2025 publications reflect a strong focus on bilingualism and neurodivergence, examining how bilingual children navigate pragmatic word learning, the role of perspective-taking in implicature derivation, and the intersection of autism and multilingualism. There is also a notable emphasis on AI ethics and discourse analysis, particularly regarding hate speech on social media and the capabilities of large language models.

Scientific Contributions and Awards:

While specific awards are not listed, Professor Katsos has secured substantial funding from AHRC, British Academy, and ESRC for pioneering work in experimental pragmatics and bilingualism.

Advising and Grants:

He actively welcomes inquiries from potential MPhil and PhD students whose interests align with his research areas. His supervision covers courses like Li2: Structures and Meanings and Li5: Linguistic Theory, and he is involved in the Cambridge Processing and Acquisition of Language lab (CAMPAL).

Labs and Teams:

Professor Katsos is associated with the Cambridge Processing and Acquisition of Language lab (CAMPAL), fostering collaborative research in language processing and acquisition.