Language Research and National Security

University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL) - The center's experts provide basic and applied research on improving language skills, particularly for personnel in the federal government. A University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), CASL responds to the needs identified by federal agencies, notably those concerned with national security and intelligence, including the Departments of Defense and State. Research areas include means to improve language proficiency and acquire knowledge of less commonly taught languages; use of technology to meet increased demands on the government for language-related services; and the impact of language competence on job performance.

For its research projects, CASL is drawing on experts from a broad range of disciplines, including language and linguistics, computer science, psychology and anthropology. CASL experts are available to comment on some specific areas of language research as well as general questions concerning government's growing need for language services. Center staff often need advance notice to arrange interviews.

Gerald Lampe - deputy director, National Foreign Language Center, University of Maryland
Expertise: Middle Eastern cultures; Arabic and its dialects

Credentials: former Director, Center for Arabic Studies Abroad; author of numerous textbooks in Arabic and its dialects; consultant to the Department of State on Arabic language
Contact: 202-637-8881, ext. 22 (office 1); 301-403-1750, ext. 32 (office 2); glampe@nflc.org ; or Neil Tickner, 301-405-4622, 301-257-0073 (after-hours) Web site: http://www.nflc.org/