Andries Coetzee

Andries Coetzee is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Michigan. He serves as the Editor of Language, the flagship journal of the Linguistic Society of America (LSA), a position he holds since 2017. His research focuses on phonetics, phonology, and their interplay, with particular emphasis on phonological variation, the link between speech perception and production, and the linguistic landscapes of South Africa and Patagonia. He has conducted extensive studies on Afrikaans (his native language) and Bantu languages, exploring topics like coarticulation, bilingualism, and sociophonetic variation.

Coetzee’s work bridges theoretical and experimental phonology, addressing questions about sound change mechanisms, language contact effects, and community-level phonetic patterns. He has received the LSA Early Career Award (2011) and was inducted as a Fellow of the LSA (2015). His research is supported by grants such as an NSF-funded project on coarticulated speech with colleague Pam Beddor. He has also contributed to editorial roles, including serving on Phonology’s editorial board since 2010.

His academic leadership extends to mentoring graduate students and shaping the field through his editorial work. The Whitney Desk, a historic desk passed to Language editors, now resides in his office, symbolizing his role in maintaining the journal’s legacy.