Find Academic Supervisors

Bianca BascianoView profile

Associate Professor

• Chinese Linguistics
• Mandarin Morphology
• Syntax-Semantics Interface
• +5 more

Bianca Basciano is an Associate Professor at the Department of Asian and North African Studies , Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where she has held the Director's Delegate for Research role since 2023. Her work focuses on Chinese linguistics , particularly Mandarin morphology, syntax, and second language acquisition. Research Areas: Chinese compounding, reduplication, causative constructions, resultative compounds, and language teaching methodologies. Teaching: Offers BA/MA courses in Chinese language and linguistics at Ca' Foscari University. Editorial Roles: Member of the editorial boards for Sinica Venetiana and Lingue e Linguaggio . Research Projects: Principal investigator for the PRIN 2020 project on Italian learners' acquisition of Chinese resultative verbs, with extensive corpus-based analysis. Collaborates with Giorgio Arcodia and other international scholars. Key Themes: Event structure delimitation, Vendlerian verb classes, micro-parametric syntactic variation. Publications: Over 40 works including monographs with Oxford University Press and Bologna University Press. Her methodological approach combines theoretical linguistics with corpus analysis, contributing to the understanding of Chinese as both a linguistic system and a second language acquisition challenge. She has also organized international conferences like the 31st IACL Annual Meeting.

• Linguistics
• Phonology
• Morphology
• +3 more

Péter Szigetvári is an Associate Professor at the School of English and American Studies , Eötvös Loránd University , specializing in the Department of English Linguistics . His work bridges phonology, morphology, and theoretical linguistics, with a focus on Hungarian and English language structures. Academic Rank: Associate Professor Department: Department of English Linguistics University: Eötvös Loránd University His research explores phonological patterns , including vowel harmony, syllable structure, and morphological constraints. He investigates the interplay between morphology and phonology in Hungarian and English, analyzing phenomena like diminutive formation, diphthong debates, and stress-related vowel reduction. Recent publications highlight trends in Vowel Harmony , Syllable Typology , and Morpho-Phonological Variation . His work often challenges traditional frameworks, proposing paradigm-based or VC phonology approaches. Péter Szigetvári's professional activities include contributions to linguistic journals and a blog at nyest.hu . His office is located at Room 302, Rákóczi út 5, Budapest (1088).

• semantics
• pragmatics
• language acquisition
• +3 more

Ayaka Sugawara serves as Associate Professor at Waseda University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Creative Science and Engineering, with concurrent affiliation at the Global Education Center and Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering (2024-2026). Her academic journey includes positions at Mie University (2015-2019) and multiple research appointments. BA (2008) and MA (2010) from The University of Tokyo PhD in Linguistics (2016) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dr. Sugawara's research spans formal semantics, pragmatics, and language acquisition with specific focus on quantifier scope interpretation , focus particles , Japanese dialectology , and second language processing . Her experimental work combines cross-linguistic comparison (Japanese/English/German/Persian), neuroimaging techniques (MEG/EEG), and computational approaches to vocabulary assessment. Current investigations examine early English education's impact on first language acquisition and non-literal language processing. Her publication trends reveal consistent interdisciplinary work bridging theoretical linguistics with educational applications, particularly in automated language assessment tools and experimental validation of semantic theories across developmental stages. Recent work demonstrates increasing collaboration with computational linguists and educational technologists. Dr. Sugawara actively contributes to the academic community through: Standing Committee membership in The Linguistics Society of Japan (2021-present) Professional affiliations with Linguistic Society of America and The Japanese Society for Language Studies Her research projects include multiple Japan Society for the Promotion of Science grants examining: Early English education effects on L1 acquisition (2021-2024) Question-under-Discussion mechanisms in ambiguous sentences (2019-2021) Cross-linguistic 'only' comprehension studies (2016-2018) Current internal projects investigate non-literal language processing and pragmatics in L1/L2 acquisition contexts.

Vera HohausView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Theoretical Linguistics
• Fieldwork
• Crosslinguistic Variation
• +4 more

Vera Hohaus is a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Manchester, affiliated with the School of Arts, Languages, and Culture and the Department of Linguistics and English Language. She obtained her PhD from Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen and has trained at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and the University of British Columbia. Her research investigates how meaning emerges from the interaction of syntactic structure, lexical information, composition principles, and context. She specializes in crosslinguistic variation and its implications for language acquisition and processing. Current projects examine scalarity representation, comparison constructions, tense-modality architecture, and the grammar of alternatives. Recent publications focus on temporal ambiguity processing, crosslinguistic pragmatics, comparative semantics, and modality across languages. Her work demonstrates methodological diversity combining theoretical frameworks with experimental approaches. She leads the Psycholinguistics Laboratory and Fieldwork Hub, mentoring students in research methods and linguistic analysis. Her collaborations span multiple international institutions including the University of Oxford and University of British Columbia.

• Semantics
• Pragmatics
• Syntax-Semantics Interface
• +7 more

Paul H. Portner is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics at Georgetown University, within the College of Arts and Sciences. His primary research lies at the intersection of semantics, pragmatics, and syntax, with a particular focus on verbal mood, modality, imperatives, and discourse structure. He is actively engaged in both teaching and research, offering courses ranging from introductory linguistics to advanced seminars in semantics and pragmatics. His educational background includes an A.B. in Philosophy from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where his dissertation was supervised by Barbara Hall Partee. His work has been supported by multiple NSF grants, including projects on clause types and gradable modal expressions. Portner’s research interests center on how grammatical structures encode speaker-addressee relations, politeness, and mood. He explores how meaning is constructed at the syntax-semantics-pragmatics interface, particularly in imperatives, exclamatives, and modal constructions. His theoretical work is deeply formal, drawing on tools from logic and philosophy of language. His recent publications (2020–2024) show a continued focus on modality, mood selection, and discourse meaning, with applications to cross-linguistic data (e.g., Korean) and computational modeling. Key themes include modal adjectives in media discourse, honorifics, indexical restrictions, and the semantics of belief and desire predicates. Notable scientific contributions include his monographs Modality (2009) and Mood (2018), both published by Oxford University Press, and his co-editorship of major reference works such as the Semantics: An International Handbook of Natural Language Meaning . He has been a frequent lecturer at summer schools, including the LSA Institute and CreteLing, helping to train the next generation of semanticists. He advises and collaborates with researchers such as Miok Pak, Raffaella Zanuttini, and Aynat Rubinstein. He has received research funding from the NSF for projects on clause types and gradable modals, and he continues to lead theoretical and empirical investigations into the structure of meaning in natural language. Portner is affiliated with the Georgetown Linguistics Department and maintains an active research profile, with ongoing work on his book Social Relations in Semantics and Pragmatics , under contract with Oxford University Press.

Louise McNallyView profile

Professor

• Semantic/Pragmatic Theory
• Morphosyntax/Semantics/Pragmatics Interfaces
• Computational Semantics
• +4 more

Louise McNally is a Professor of Linguistics at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona, Spain. She holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Cruz (1992) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Computational Linguistics from UPF (2002). Her research focuses on semantic/pragmatic theory, morphosyntax-semantics-pragmatics interfaces, and computational semantics, with recent explorations into vector-based and information-theoretic models of meaning. McNally has held senior administrative roles at UPF, including Vice Rector for the Organization and Academic Project (2015–2017), Vice Rector for Faculty Affairs (2011–2015), and Vice Rector for Research (2009–2011). She is co-Editor-in-Chief of Semantics and Pragmatics and affiliated with the Grammar and Cognition Lab and Computational Linguistics and Linguistic Theory groups. Her work bridges formal semantics with experimental perspectives, addressing issues like nominalization, scalar implicatures, and idiomatic expressions. Key honors include the Alexander von Humboldt Research Prize (2017) and multiple ICREA Academia Awards (2008, 2013, 2018). Her publications span theoretical linguistics, computational semantics, and experimental studies, emphasizing cross-disciplinary collaboration.

• Philosophy of Language
• Value Theory
• Social Philosophy
• +4 more

Rachel Etta Rudolph is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego. Her work focuses on philosophy of language, value theory, social philosophy, and philosophy of artificial intelligence. She holds a PhD in Philosophy from UC Berkeley (2019) and a BA in Philosophy and German from McGill University, following studies in the Liberal Arts Program at Dawson College. Prior to UCSD, she was a faculty member at Auburn University's Philosophy Department. Her research explores experiential language (e.g., 'tasty' or 'blue'), linguistic commitments, and AI’s role in reflecting/conveying these commitments. Upcoming engagements include a keynote at the Rocky Mountain Philosophy Conference (April 2025) and a talk at the University of Rochester’s Center for Language Sciences (March 2025). Key research themes include social generics, bias in language models, conceptual engineering, and markedness confounds in stereotype detection. She has published widely in journals like Philosophical Studies , Inquiry , and Semantics and Pragmatics , and collaborates with researchers in computer science and cognitive science. Education: PhD in Philosophy, UC Berkeley, 2019 BA in Philosophy and German, McGill University Liberal Arts Program, Dawson College Key Projects: Developed frameworks for metalinguistic negotiation and conceptual exploration Explores AI’s ethical implications through bias detection and conceptual revision

• Linguistics
• Semantics
• Pragmatics
• +6 more

E. Cameron Wilson is a researcher affiliated with Queen Mary University of London, focusing on Semantics & Pragmatics . They have collaborated extensively with Stephanie Solt on topics like degree modification , attenuation , and polarity sensitivity , presenting at institutions such as ZAS Berlin , University College London , and Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen . ORCID Research Interests include the analysis of gradable adjectives, non-conservative measure phrases, and the syntactic and semantic properties of superlatives in English and Dutch. Their work bridges theoretical linguistics with experimental approaches. Recent Trends in their publications (2019–2021) emphasize cross-linguistic comparisons, formal semantics of quantifiers, and interactions between degree modifiers and polarity sensitivity. Collaborative work with Stephanie Solt dominates their output. Conference Participation spans major events like Generative Grammatik des Südens , Sinn und Bedeutung , and The Linguist's Workshop , covering topics from Slovenian dialects to Dutch-English measure expressions.

Ivan KapitonovView profile

Researcher

• Syntax & Morphosyntax
• Formal Semantics
• Quantification
• +6 more

Dr. Ivan Kapitonov is affiliated with the Department of Linguistics at the University of Cologne. His research focuses on syntax, formal semantics, and morphosyntax with specialization in Australian languages (particularly Gunwinyguan) and Northwest Caucasian languages. He has conducted extensive fieldwork on Kunbarlang, an Australian Aboriginal language, resulting in a comprehensive grammar published by De Gruyter Mouton. His work explores topics like partitive disanaphors, quantification, and measurement-theoretic typology of adjectives. Teaching areas: Syntax, semantics, linguistic typology Fieldwork locations: Australia (Kunbarlang), Caucasus region Recent publications include cross-linguistic studies on quantification and detailed analyses of Kunbarlang's grammatical structures. He frequently presents at international conferences such as the Annual Meeting of the Linguistic Society of America and the Australian Linguistics Society meetings. Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (email required for in-person meetings; uses Zoom scheduler).

Antonio FortinView profile

Visiting Professor

• Semantics
• Pragmatics
• Morphology
• +7 more

Antonio Fortin is a Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford in the Linguistics, Philology, and Phonetics school. His research focuses on semantics, pragmatics, morphology , and NLP , with a strong emphasis on expressive affixes and evaluative suffixation . Supervised by Professor Martin Maiden and Dr. Ash Asudeh , his work bridges theoretical and computational linguistics. Key Research Areas : Semantics, Pragmatics, Morphology, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Data Science. Publication Trends : Recent work spans semantic compositionality , modal deverbal adjectives , and educational simulation environments . His thesis (2011) redefined expressive morphology across languages like Bantu, Sanskrit, English, and Romance , showing its anomalous yet pervasive nature. Papers such as "Evaluative Suffixes" (2022) and "Constructions, Pragmatics, and Modality" (2013) argue for pragmatic derivations over complex lexical rules. He also developed a neural network simulator (2022) for student engagement in online courses, combining computational methods with educational theory.

• Syntax
• Morphology
• Typology
• +3 more

Pavel Caha is an Associate Professor at the Department of Czech Language, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, where he also serves as Vice-Dean for Research and Project Activities. His academic career spans theoretical linguistics with a focus on syntax and morphology, particularly within the Nanosyntax framework. Dr. Caha received his PhD from CASTL in Tromsø. His educational background has prepared him for advanced research in linguistic theory and cross-linguistic analysis, with particular expertise in Czech language structures. Dr. Caha's primary research interests center around syntax, morphology, and typology, with a particular focus on the Nanosyntax framework. His work investigates morphological puzzles through the lens of syntactic decomposition, examining phenomena such as allomorphy, syncretism, case marking, and degree expressions. He has made significant contributions to understanding how morphological patterns can be explained through syntactic operations, challenging traditional boundaries between syntax and morphology. His research often bridges theoretical linguistics with empirical analysis of specific languages, particularly Czech but also extending to diverse languages like Russian, Tamil, and Dutch. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on morphological theory within the Nanosyntax framework, with particular attention to allomorphy, syncretism, and case systems. His work demonstrates how seemingly complex morphological patterns can be derived from simpler syntactic operations. There's a clear progression in his research from foundational work on Czech morphology to broader theoretical contributions and cross-linguistic applications. His collaborative work with researchers like Karen De Clercq and Guido Vanden Wyngaerd has been particularly influential in advancing the Nanosyntax framework. Dr. Caha has been recognized for his academic contributions through multiple research grants and invitations to present at prestigious institutions including MIT and Stanford. His leadership roles and successful grant acquisitions demonstrate recognition within the academic community. As a supervisor, Dr. Caha has successfully guided several PhD students to completion, including Maria Cortiula (2023), Lucie Janků (2022), Fenna Bergsma (2021), and Veronika Kloudová (2020). His grant portfolio includes significant projects such as 'A life with Language: the nature and ontogeny of linguistic communication' (2025-2028), 'Stem Morphology' (2025-2027), and 'Case marking in subordinate clauses' (2022-2024), demonstrating sustained research funding and leadership in his field. Dr. Caha is actively involved in the academic community through editorial board memberships at journals including Open Slavic Linguistics, Continua (Penn State), The Rivista, and Textbooks in Language Sciences. He was a member of the Academic Senate at the Faculty of Arts from 2021-2023. His work continues to shape theoretical approaches to morphology and syntax, particularly through the development and application of the Nanosyntax framework.

Justin D'AmbrosioView profile

Lecturer

• Philosophy of Language
• Metaphysics
• Logic
• +3 more

Dr. Justin D'Ambrosio is a Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at the University of St Andrews' School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies. His research focuses on philosophy of language, metaphysics, and epistemology, with particular emphasis on semantic structures, consciousness studies, and the philosophical analysis of language phenomena. D'Ambrosio's scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on linguistic philosophy, perception theory, and cognitive aspects of meaning construction. His publications primarily explore the intersection of linguistic structures and philosophical inquiry, covering topics including adjective semantics, intensional transitive verbs, perceptual consciousness, and imagination semantics. Recent work shows developing interest in narrative phenomenology and cognitive approaches to fiction analysis. The publications predominantly appear in philosophy and linguistics journals, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement.

Alexis WellwoodView profile

Professor

• Semantics
• Language Acquisition
• Psycholinguistics
• +4 more

Alexis Wellwood is a Professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California (USC), holding courtesy appointments in the Department of Linguistics and the Department of Psychology. Since 2022, they serve as Deputy Director of Philosophy and since 2023 as a Leadership Fellow to the USC Dornsife Divisional Dean of Humanities. Their research focuses on semantics, language acquisition, and event cognition, leading the Meaning Lab since 2017 and directing the North American Summer School for Logic, Language, and Information in 2022. They received the 2019 Albert S. Raubenheimer award for Outstanding Junior Faculty and hold an NSF grant in cognitive sciences. Education: PhD in Linguistics (2014) from the University of Maryland, advised by Valentine Hacquard. Mentored by Paul Pietroski, Alexander Williams, Jeffrey Lidz, and Colin Phillips. Supported by SSHRC and the Maryland Language Science Center. Research interests include semantics, syntax-semantics interfaces, event perception, and comparative structures. They investigate how linguistic meanings interact with cognitive processes, particularly in children's language development, through experimental and formal methods. Key contributions include work on gradable adjectives, event ontology, and superlative acquisition. Leadership roles: Steering committee member of USC's Cognitive Science Program, co-director of Mind and Language in LA (since 2018), and Associate Editor for Journal of Semantics (2021–present). They established the Meaning Lab and previously led the Child Language Development Laboratory at Northwestern University (2012–2017). Awards and grants: NSF Brain and Cognitive Sciences grant (2017), Raubenheimer award (2019), and multiple collaborative projects across linguistics, philosophy, and psychology. Their work bridges formal semantics with empirical studies of language use and cognitive mechanisms.

E. Cameron WilsonView profile

Researcher

• Syntax
• Semantics
• Degree Modifiers
• +3 more

Dr. E. Cameron Wilson is a Researcher at the Leibniz-Zentrum Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft (ZAS) , affiliated with Research Area 4 'Semantics & Pragmatics'. She served as a Research Associate in the DFG-funded project DegAtt: Degree Attenuators – Attenuating Polarity Items in the Degree Domain . Her work focuses on syntax and semantics of gradable expressions, degree modifiers, and their interplay with polarity items across languages. Education details are not explicitly mentioned, but her research emphasizes formal semantics and syntactic analysis. Key areas include the syntax-semantics interface of adjectives/nominal domains, attenuation effects, and polarity sensitivity in degree constructions. Wilson has organized workshops like DegPol2020 on degree expressions and polarity effects, showcasing her leadership in the field. Her publications explore superlatives (e.g., the most ), M-modifiers, and constraints on non-conservative readings in languages like English and Dutch. Her contributions span theoretical linguistics and experimental approaches, with recent work appearing in Semantics and Pragmatics and conference proceedings. She actively collaborates with scholars like Stephanie Solt and presents at major events like Sense and Meaning and Theoretical and Experimental Approaches to Modification .

Paul SilvaView profile

Academic

• Epistemology
• Formal Epistemology
• Social Epistemology
• +3 more

Jun.-Prof. Dr. Paul Silva is a Junior Professor in Epistemology at the University of Cologne's Department of Philosophy, affiliated with the Philosophical Seminar. He holds a PhD from the University of Connecticut (2013). His research focuses on traditional epistemology, formal epistemology, and social epistemology, with emphasis on awareness theory, knowledge normativity, and statistical evidence. Key works include On Believing and Being Convinced (2025), Awareness and the Substructure of Knowledge (2023), and Ignorance and awareness (2024). Silva’s contributions address foundational issues like the relationship between knowledge and awareness, epistemic normativity, and rational belief formation. He is part of the CONCEPT research center and teaches courses on epistemological topics. Contact: psilva@uni-koeln.de.