Skip to main content
Language Sciences Laboratory

About the Language Sciences Laboratory

Mission Statement

We seek to understand and uncover the truths of Eternity that God “already knows and controls” relating to the “kindreds, tongues, and peoples” around the world. We provide a space to “prove ourselves faithful” to His commandment to teach His word to all people. We are “anxiously engaged” in daily actions to increase faith of students and faculty by organizing knowledge through various research projects. We seek to embody the vision of President Kimball to make BYU “the acknowledged language capital of the world” while remaining humble by asking “what lack I yet,” acknowledging gaps that we seek to fill.

Vision

We strive to see every student that passes through our doors as a beloved child of God, who are expanding on their talents and abilities for God’s purposes to bring His message of salvation to all people.

Core Values

  • We encourage students to prayerfully prepare for their language exams, and to exercise the gift that many have received as representatives of Jesus Christ as missionaries around the world. 
  • We recognize the role that language and cultural competence play in the well-being of our students, BYU community, and global harmony. 
  • We care about our students and respect their divine potential, regardless of ability. 
  • We are committed to the professional preparation of our students. 
  • We strive to make meaningful contributions to language, literature, and pedagogy research and practice. 
  • We continue to be committed to the development of the total individual and their quality of life, including intellectual, spiritual, service, and character domains. 

Located in the basement of the Joseph Fielding Smith Building (JFSB B163), the Language Sciences Laboratory features dedicated research spaces for various language studies. Equipped with fNIRS, an EEG, sound isolation booths, and two eye-tracking devices, these rooms provide both students and faculty with the tools to investigate the cognitive processes associated with language.

A newer function for the lab is currently the language proficiency testing. We host over 4000 exams annually in the form of Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPI) and Oral Proficiency Interviews with a Computer (OPIc).

Beyond research, we offer a main room available for scheduling meetings, presentations, and academic gatherings. Whether you're a researcher or faculty seeking a space to engage in meaningful conversations, our main room provides a versatile setting to accommodate diverse needs.

We express our sincere gratitude to the donors whose generous contributions have made the establishment of this laboratory possible. This facility empowers both students and faculty to engage in rigorous research endeavors aimed at advancing knowledge and ultimately going forth to serve and better our society.

To learn more about current research projects in the lab and opportunities to participate, please select the research tab at the top of the page.