Marlyse Baptista

Marlyse Baptista is a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). Her research focuses on creole languages, particularly Cape Verdean Creole, exploring morpho-syntax, language contact, sociolinguistics, and documentation. She has made significant contributions to creole studies through fieldwork in Cape Verde, examining language variation and historical roots. Baptista is a Fellow of the Linguistic Society of America (2016), recognizing her distinguished contributions. She has advised numerous students at the University of Georgia and the University of Michigan, mentoring work on syntax, language contact, and creole formation. Her fieldwork across Cape Verde’s nine islands has produced a comprehensive corpus of natural speech data, advancing creole documentation and advocacy for its official status. Collaborations include the Atlas of Pidgin and Creole Language Structures and interdisciplinary projects linking genetics with language origins. Baptista’s research bridges theoretical linguistics and sociopolitical activism, promoting creole languages in education and cultural preservation.

Education: Ph.D. in Linguistics from Harvard University, postdoctoral work at MIT, and academic roles at the University of Georgia (1998–2007) before joining the University of Michigan in 2007. She co-founded the Cape Verdean Creole Institute and led literacy workshops to advance creole’s role in education.

Key Research Areas: Creole syntax, language contact, sociolinguistics, and applied linguistics. She uses generative syntax and typological frameworks to analyze creole systems while advocating for creole languages’ institutional recognition.