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John Searle gives outstanding opening lecture
On 30 September, Professor John Searle of the University of California, Berkeley, held his audience spellbound as he spoke on 'The Nature of Language'. The eminent American language philosopher, averse to polished PowerPoint presentations, just used a paper, pencil and overhead projector to illustrate his latest contributions to the wellknown speech act theory, using his dog Gilbert as a faithful 'figurant'.
Sep 30, 2009
The special lecture marked the official opening of the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Language Sciences, a joint initiative of the Max Plank Institute for Psycholinguistics, the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and the Centre for Language Studies. The new research school, supported by the Max Planck Society, provides an interdisplinary training and research programme for excellent PhD students in the broad field of language sciences.
High expectations
Minister of education, culture and science Ronald Plasterk and Radboud University's rector magnificus Professor Sebastian Kortmann also helped to celebrate the occasion with words of support for the IMPRS for Language Sciences and its first group of students. Minister Plasterk said in a pre-recorded message: 'Each of these institutions has a fine reputation, specifically in the field of language sciences. Together they will produce the top research and I have high expectations for their outcome. The fact that the Max Planck Gesellschaft has linked its name to this research school gives me every faith as well that this cooperation will produce outstanding results.'
For more information about the IMPRS for Language Sciences, contact IMPRS@mpi.nl.

