2026 Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science Announced

The Faculty of Humanities of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce the laureates of the 2026 Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science. Initiated and hosted by the Faculty, the Prize is awarded on a biennial basis and was first conferred in 2024. It recognises distinguished contributions to language science research. The Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded to Professor Brian MacWhinney in recognition of his pioneering and sustained contributions to the field through integrative research spanning psycholinguistics, corpus and computational linguistics, neurolinguistics, and systems theory. The Early Career Award is conferred upon Professor Charles B. Chang for his influential research on bilingual speech, linguistics, phonetics, and language development. Together, the 2026 laureates have made significant contributions with far-reaching impact on language science research worldwide. Professor Brian MacWhinney is Theresa Heinz Professor of Cognitive Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. He is the founding Director of the Child Language Data Exchange System (CHILDES) and TalkBank, the world’s largest open-access integrated repository for spoken-language data. These infrastructures have been used in more than 14,000 published papers. He is the first recipient of the Roger Brown Award from the International Association for the Study of Child Language and a recipient of the FABBS Honor Award for his contributions to the behavioural and brain sciences. For over five decades, Professor MacWhinney has been at the forefront of language science research. His research addresses the complexity of human language by integrating experimental methods, large-scale data resources, and theoretically motivated computational approaches. He is best known for the Competition Model, a highly influential theoretical framework which characterises language processing as cue-based competition between lexical, phonological, and syntactic representations. Supported by more than one hundred empirical studies across 18 languages, the Competition Model has fundamentally shaped research on first and second language acquisition, bilingualism, and language impairments. In parallel, his leadership in creating and sustaining TalkBank—including CHILDES, AphasiaBank, DementiaBank, PhonBank, and related resources—has transformed the empirical foundations of language science by establishing global standards for data sharing, annotation, and open science in language science. These resources have supported research across domains and continue to expand, with growing coverage of East Asian languages, including Chinese. Professor MacWhinney has also played a pioneering role in developing experimental and computational tools for language research, including PsyScope, E‑Prime, and more recently Batchalign, which enables automatic speech recognition and morphosyntactic analysis of spoken language data. His broader theoretical work on Emergentism integrates insights from systems theory, cognition, and neural plasticity to explain how language structure arises through interacting mechanisms operating over multiple timescales. Through sustained scholarly leadership, mentorship, and service to international research communities, Professor MacWhinney has made enduring contributions to both theoretical inquiry and research infrastructure in contemporary language science. Professor MacWhinney receives the Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science for his lifetime of distinguished contributions to language science, encompassing integrative theoretical innovation, research infrastructure development, and lasting international impact on the study of human language. Professor Charles B. Chang is Professor of Linguistics whose research focuses on phonetics, phonology, and language acquisition, with particular emphasis on bilingualism and multilingualism. He is a recipient of the Early Career Award from the Linguistic Society of America and has been elected a Fellow of the Psychonomic Society. Professor Chang’s principal contribution to language science lies in his pioneering research on bilingual speech. Through meticulous experimental phonetic analyses, he has demonstrated that a speaker’s first language can change under the influence of a second language within a relatively short period of time. This work shows the malleability of the first language as a consequence of bilingualism and directly challenges long‑standing assumptions that the native language is biologically ‘anchored’ after childhood or adolescence. His research has contributed greatly to a breakthrough in language science at the international level by facilitating a paradigm shift in how the first language is understood—not as a fixed end‑product, but as a dynamic process that continues to evolve across the lifespan. Building on this foundational insight, Professor Chang continues to investigate the factors that drive language change when multiple languages interact in the bilingual and multilingual mind. His research has advanced understanding of cross‑linguistic influence, heritage language speech, and the dynamic nature of multilingual sound systems, and has helped reshape theoretical and empirical approaches to language development, attrition, and change. In addition to his research achievements, Professor Chang plays an active leadership role in the field and has contributed extensively through editorial service, leadership roles in major international conferences, and the mentorship of graduate students and junior researchers. Professor Chang receives the Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science for his outstanding early‑career contributions to the study of bilingual speech and language development, and for his demonstrated leadership and international impact in advancing language science. The laureates will each deliver a public lecture on 8 May 2026. Interested parties are invited to join the lectures through the registration links below. Participants of 2026 International Symposium of Language Science (ISLS) need not register again. Click here to register for Prof. Brian MacWhinney’s lecture Click here to register for Prof. Charles B. Chang’s lecture The 2026 Yuen Ren Chao Prize in Language Science is generously supported and sponsored by PolyU Technology and Consultancy Company Limited, for which the Faculty of Humanities expresses its deepest gratitude. PolyU Technology and Consultancy Company Limited is committed to advancing excellence in academic-based consultancy services, a vision that aligns closely with the Yuen Ren Chao Prize’s mission to promote academic research for the benefit of humanity. The Faculty of Humanities extends its warmest congratulations to Professor Brian MacWhinney and Professor Charles B. Chang, and will continue to promote research in language science. For details of the Yuen Ren Chao Prize, please visit the website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/fh/chao-prize.

Associate Dean Prof. Hang Xing Participates in UK–HK Higher Education Arts & Culture Network Workshop in London

Associate Dean Prof. Hang Xing participated in the UK–HK Higher Education (HE) Arts & Culture Network Workshop, organised by the British Council Hong Kong in London on 26–27 February. The workshop brought together 26 delegates from universities and cultural institutions across both regions for meaningful exchange and collaboration. Participants engaged in a series of thematic discussions exploring interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation and technology, intellectual property development, and sustainable partnership models. Facilitated discussions enabled delegates to share institutional priorities, exchange expertise, and identify areas for long-term cooperation. The workshop marks the beginning of the UK–HK HE Arts and Culture Network, a platform designed to support meaningful, innovative, and sustainable partnerships between the two regions. The Network also aims to empower emerging talent by fostering intergenerational dialogue and mentorship that will shape the future of arts and culture.

PolyU Linguistics Climbs to 45th in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026

The Faculty has achieved a notable advancement in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject. Linguistics was ranked 45th globally in 2026, up from 51st in 2025, reflecting the strength and impact of the Faculty’s research and education in the field. In addition, PolyU’s Arts and Humanities broad subject area has also moved up in the latest rankings, reaching 72nd place worldwide this year and indicating ongoing progress across the humanities. The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 evaluated the performance of over 1,900 institutions worldwide across 55 academic subjects and five broad subject areas, based on their academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper, the H-index and international research network.

Assistant Dean Prof. Renia Lopez on Learning by Doing in a GenAI-enabled World

Is GenAI changing the way we learn? While GenAI is now a non-negotiable in the classroom, student creativity and critical thinking remain the heart of education. Assistant Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Renia Lopez, shares her perspectives in Times Higher Education on redefining ‘learning by doing’ for a digital-first world. Click HERE to read more.

From HKLO to APLO: 20 Local Secondary School Students Advance to APLO

The 8th Hong Kong Linguistics Olympiad (HKLO) was held successfully on 8 February 2026, attracting a total of 105 contestants from 30 local secondary schools. The Linguistics Olympiad challenges contestants’ logical ability through linguistics puzzles, without requiring any knowledge of linguistics or foreign languages, with an aim to cultivate an understanding of the diversity of world languages and the ability to analyse their structures. This year, the questions explored the logic of a variety of languages, including Shanghainese, Guaraní, Maltese and Chiquitano. Two students won Gold Medals, six earned Silver Medals, twelve received Bronze Medals, and 23 were awarded Honourable Mentions. Among them, the top 20 contestants are qualified to compete in the upcoming Asia Pacific Linguistics Olympiad (APLO), scheduled for 29 March 2026. Congratulations to all our young linguistic talents on their remarkable achievement, and we wish them every success in the upcoming APLO!

Appointment of Prof. Anthony Mark McEnery as Chair Professor of Corpus Linguistics and AI for the Humanities

The Faculty is delighted to announce the appointment of Prof. Anthony Mark McEnery as Chair Professor of Corpus Linguistics and AI for the Humanities in the Department of English and Communication. Prof. McEnery brings a wealth of expertise and a distinguished record of scholarly excellence to ENGL and FH, and we warmly welcome him to the PolyU family. Prof. McEnery holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Lancaster University (1986), a Master of Science in Information Technology from Leicester Polytechnic (1988), and a PhD in Computational Pragmatics from Lancaster University (1996). He was later awarded a Doctor of Letters (DLitt) in Linguistics by Lancaster University in 2012. His academic career began at Lancaster University, where he progressed from Lecturer in 1992 to Professor of English Language and Linguistics in 2001, and was appointed Distinguished Professor in 2013—a position he held until joining PolyU. During his tenure at LancasterU, he served in key leadership roles, including Head of the Department of Linguistics and English Language (2000–2005) and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (2008–2014). A leading authority in theoretical and applied corpus linguistics, Prof. McEnery’s research explores computational language analysis and the integration of AI techniques in linguistic studies. His work has advanced fields such as speech recognition, multilingual corpora, and ethical AI applications in the humanities, with extensive publications in top-tier journals. He has secured over £10 million in research funding and led ground-breaking projects, including the British National Corpus 2014 and EMILLE Corpora. Prof. McEnery’s contributions have earned him prestigious recognition, including Fellowships of the Academy of Social Sciences, the Global China Academy, Trinity College London, and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce. In 2021, he was awarded the Changjiang Chair Professorship by the Chinese Ministry of Education. Notably, he has been consistently ranked among the world’s top 2% of scientists in Communication & Textual Studies (subfield: Languages & Linguistics) on Stanford University’s “World’s Top 2% Scientists” list, underscoring his profound global impact. We anticipate the innovative perspectives that Prof. McEnery will bring to ENGL and FH, enhancing our research in corpus linguistics, AI, and humanities.

PolyU’s Arts and Humanities Achieves Remarkable Rise in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026

The Faculty has recorded a strong performance in the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2026, with Arts and Humanities ranked 77th globally, showing a noteworthy rise from last year. This advancement highlights the Faculty’s strengthening international standing and reflects the collective efforts of FH academics in delivering impactful research and high-quality teaching across language, communication, history, culture, and technology. THE World University Rankings by Subject evaluate the performance of universities worldwide across 11 subject areas using five core pillar criteria: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook and Industry. For more information of THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026, please visit: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/by-subject.

Call for Abstracts (deadline extended to 30 January 2026) - International Symposium on Language Science (ISLS) 2026: Interdisciplinary Research and the Legacy of Yuen Ren Chao

The Faculty of Humanities at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), in collaboration with the Department of English and Communication and the Department of Language Science and Technology, is pleased to announce the International Symposium on Language Science (ISLS) 2026: Interdisciplinary Research and the Legacy of Yuen Ren Chao (語言科學國際研討會：趙元任學術思想與跨學科研究). The Symposium will take place on 8-9 May 2026 (Friday and Saturday) at PolyU in Hong Kong. The ISLS aims to provide a platform for interdisciplinary dialogues and the exchange of ideas among leading scholars, researchers, students, and professionals in the fields of linguistics and language science. The Symposium will foster the exploration of novel concepts, the sharing of research findings, and the establishment of professional connections. Additionally, it seeks to inspire future generations of linguists and language science researchers to continue advancing these fields. The Symposium also intends to pay tribute to the remarkable contributions of Professor Yuen Ren Chao in language science. Keynote Speakers   Prof. Nai Ding                            Research Professor                                                      College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Sciences                      Zhejiang University   Prof. Roberto Filippi                 Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Multilingualism                       UCL Institute of Education   Dr Tomoyasu Horikawa            Distinguished Researcher                                                       NTT Communication Science Laboratories   Prof. Judith F. Kroll                   Distinguished Professor                                                       School of Education                                                       University of California, Irvine Themes of the Symposium   Prof. Yuen Ren Chao's Contributions to Linguistics and Language Science Bridging AI, Language, and the Humanities: Generative Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies for the Future of Language Education Corpus Linguistics and Discourse Studies Professional Communication including Health communication, Aviation Communication, etc. Methodological innovations for Probing the Developing Language Brain Neuroscience and Language Development Advances in Language research and practice Technological-enhanced translation and bilingual communication Musical, Cognitive and Social Factors in Language Processing and Learning Technology-enhanced language teaching and learning   Call for Abstracts (Submission deadline extended: 30 January 2026) - Click HERE for paper submission Please refer to the official website for more details: https://events.polyu.edu.hk/isls2026/main

Leading the Way in AI and Humanities Research

As AI brings new possibilities to all corners of society, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is at the forefront of digital advances in disciplines such as the humanities, languages, health, neuroscience and history. Click HERE to learn more about the AI and humanities research at the Faculty.

PolyU Presidential Student Leadership Award 2025/26

A year-3 BACHC student, Xu Chang, has been awarded the Presidential Student Leadership Award of the Faculty of Humanities 2025/26. The Presidential Student Leadership Award, launched by the University in 2022/23, aims to acknowledge the leadership skills and contributions of students to their local and global communities. Xu Chang is also the recipient of the Presidential Student Leadership Award of the Department of Chinese History and Culture. The other two Departmental awardees from the Faculty are Cheng Yaxuan from the Department of English and Communication and Chen Tsz Wan Lavender from the Department of Language Science and Technology. The presentation ceremony will be held on 19 March 2026.