Speaking of Language: Reflections on Metalanguage Research in NLP

arXiv cs.AI / 4/6/2026

💬 OpinionSignals & Early TrendsIdeas & Deep AnalysisModels & Research

共有:

Key Points

The paper introduces and defines “metalanguage,” explains why it matters, and connects the concept directly to NLP and LLM research.
It highlights two labs’ ongoing efforts centered on metalanguage and metalinguistic tasks.
The authors propose four dimensions for metalanguage, framing how metalinguistic tasks can be categorized and analyzed.
The work closes with a set of understudied future research directions intended to guide upcoming investigations in this area.

Abstract

This work aims to shine a spotlight on the topic of metalanguage. We first define metalanguage, link it to NLP and LLMs, and then discuss our two labs' metalanguage-centered efforts. Finally, we discuss four dimensions of metalanguage and metalinguistic tasks, offering a list of understudied future research directions.