Paul Arsenault

Dr. Paul Arsenault serves as Associate Professor and BA Linguistics Program Chair at Tyndale University, Toronto, specializing in phonology, phonetics, language documentation, and South Asian languages. With extensive fieldwork experience across South Asia, he has conducted linguistic research, taught linguistics, and provided consultancy to NGOs focused on literacy and translation projects.

His academic qualifications include:

• PhD in Linguistics from the University of Toronto (2012), dissertation: "Retroflex consonant harmony in South Asia"
• MA from the University of Hyderabad, India (2002)
• SIL Linguistic Training from Trinity Western University (1998)
• B.Th. from Eastern Pentecostal Bible College (1995)

Dr. Arsenault's research centers on phonological phenomena in South Asian languages, particularly retroflex consonant harmony, vowel systems, and acoustic properties of speech. His work integrates theoretical frameworks with empirical field data, examining languages like Kalasha, Muduga, and Dhivehi to understand typological patterns, historical development, and areal influences. Key contributions include establishing retroflex harmony as a significant areal feature across South Asia.

His publication history reveals a consistent focus on acoustic phonetic analysis of understudied languages, with recent work emphasizing vowel harmony systems and retroflex articulation. This research bridges theoretical phonology and practical language documentation, contributing to broader understanding of sound change and linguistic diversity in the region.

Dr. Arsenault actively disseminates findings through presentations at major conferences including the Linguistic Society of America and International Congress of Phonetic Sciences. At Tyndale University, he teaches core linguistics courses covering phonetics, phonology, and field methods, while providing program leadership for the BA Linguistics degree. No information regarding scientific awards, student advising, research grants, or laboratory facilities appears in the source documentation.