Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Multidisciplinary Activities awarded $625,596 to Washington University under the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences program (CFDA 47.075) on August 1, 2026, for a three-year research project investigating cognitive mechanisms underlying human language structure and processing. The core deliverable is empirical research examining how human cognition represents and processes fixed ordering preferences in binomials—two-part expressions such as "fair and square" and "bits and pieces"—with specific focus on how initial consonant phonetics influence word ordering within rhyming binomial pairs. The research addresses a fundamental gap in linguistic and psychological understanding by testing the hypothesis that speakers' strong ordering preferences reflect phonetic systems rather than grammar rules alone, potentially revealing how speech sound properties affect language planning and processing.

In addition to the primary research output, the project includes a significant public engagement component delivering educational activities through museum programs and other outreach initiatives to increase public understanding of language and scientific methodology. The research is expected to advance broader knowledge of how cognitive and phonetic factors drive language use patterns and production, contributing to foundational understanding of human language processing mechanisms. The award period extends through July 31, 2029.