Dr. Yang Xu

Biography

Yang Xu is a faculty member at the University of Toronto, where his research explores the intersection of language, cognition, and computation. His work investigates how finite vocabulary can express an infinite array of ideas, focusing on the adaptiveness of the lexicon to convey emerging meanings over longer time periods. He specifically studies how words extend and combine to derive new meanings, and how computational models can replicate the processes involved in constructing and interpreting novel word meanings. Xu has contributed to projects involving computational analysis of cross-linguistic structures, developing methods that explore the relationships between language and moral domains. His notable publications include investigations into word meaning extensions across species, efficiency frameworks for dynamic meaning construction, and the evolution of moral lexicons. He also examines language development and evolution through the lens of human lexical creativity. Xu's research is characterized by a synthetic approach, integrating computational methods and cognitive science perspectives to further our understanding of language processing and development.

Research Interests

Experience