Kenny Smith

Kenny Smith is a Professor of Evolutionary Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh, affiliated with the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences and the Centre for Language Evolution. He supervises PhD students in linguistics and related fields.

• Research Interests: Evolutionary linguistics, language learning, phonology, cultural evolution, cognitive biases, and computational modeling of language structures.
• Projects: Focus on iterated learning, regularization in language, differential case marking, and the role of social/intergroup biases in linguistic stereotype formation.
• Grants: Funded by ESRC, European Commission, Royal Society, and UK-based charities.
• Collaborations: Worked with institutions like Durham University, Marseille, and researchers such as Hannah Rabagliati and Juliette Culbertson.

His work bridges cognitive science, experimental linguistics, and computational approaches to analyze how language structures emerge and evolve through learning and communication.

Awards:

• Royal Society Fellowship
• RSE Travel Assistance Grant