Find Academic Supervisors

Christopher HammerlyView profile

Assistant Professor

• Linguistics
• Syntax
• Morphology
• +7 more

Dr. Christopher Hammerly is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of British Columbia and Director of the Experimental Linguistics and Fieldwork Lab (ELF-Lab). A descendant of the White Earth Nation in Minnesota, his research centers on documenting and revitalizing Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), focusing on syntax, morphology, and cognitive linguistics. His work integrates formal linguistic theory with computational tools and experimental methods, emphasizing community-driven revitalization efforts. He holds an SSHRC Insight Grant for studying grammatical person and voice in Ojibwe, developing computational tools (e.g., morphological analyzers) and pedagogical resources for language learners. Collaborations with Treaty #3 elders in Ontario ensure the project aligns with community needs, benefiting ~10,000 K-12 students via the Anishinaabemodaa app. Education: Not explicitly stated in provided texts, but academic trajectory inferred through grants and roles. Research interests include syntax-morphology interfaces, long-distance agreement, and the application of formal theories to Indigenous language preservation. Recent projects explore multilingual speech synthesis and numeral classifier systems' cognitive impacts. Scientific achievements include SSHRC Insight Grant (2024), Hampton New Faculty Grant (UBC), and contributions to computational linguistics tools for Ojibwe. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with applied revitalization, fostering collaboration between academics and Indigenous communities. Advising and grants: Supervises projects under SSHRC and UBC grants, focusing on experimental syntax and fieldwork. Grants have supported RA positions and community partnerships. ELF-Lab coordinates projects like eye-tracking studies for language acquisition and formal learning models. Labs/Teams: Directs ELF-Lab, which integrates experimental methods, fieldwork, and computational linguistics to address theoretical and applied language issues.

Yishan HuangView profile

Lecturer

• Tonal languages
• Phonetics
• Phonology
• +5 more

Dr. Yishan Huang is an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics at The University of Sydney. She holds a BA from Minnan Normal University (China), an MA from Guangxi Normal University (China), and a PhD from the Australian National University (ANU). Her research focuses on tonal languages in East and Southeast Asia, with a multidimensional approach to tonetics (tonal phonetics), tonology (tonal phonology), and tonotactics (tonal phonotactics). She also investigates morphology, syntax-semantics interfaces, and endangered language documentation. Research Interests Dr. Huang specializes in the phonetic-phonological-morpho-syntactic interfaces of tonal languages. Her work combines acoustic analysis, articulatory data, and theoretical linguistics to explore tonogenesis, tonal phonotactics, and the sociolinguistic dimensions of language endangerment. Recent studies emphasize Zhangzhou Southern Min dialect's tonal systems, phonation types, and morphological processes like infixation and reduplication. Publications Trends Her recent work (2020–2024) reveals a consistent focus on Zhangzhou Southern Min dialect, addressing tonal acoustics, phonotactic constraints, and morphological processes. Methodologically, she integrates computational linguistics with fieldwork, employing multidimensional analyses to decode complex linguistic interactions. Key themes include tonal sandhi, glottal stop evolution, and the documentation of endangered language practices. Awards & Grants 2020 Humanities Travelling Fellowship (Australian Academy of Humanities) 2017 Research Grant (Australian Linguistics Society) 2016 ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language Grant Grants & Affiliations Dr. Huang has secured grants supporting fieldwork in Southeast Asia and collaborative research on tonal systems. She is affiliated with the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre and active in organizations like the International Association of Chinese Linguistics. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics and applied language documentation, with a focus on preserving cultural knowledge embedded in endangered languages. Labs & Teams She collaborates with the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, contributing to interdisciplinary projects on language and cultural sustainability in Southeast Asia.

Abraham Chin ChangView profile

Professor

• Applied Linguistics
• Second Language Acquisition
• Spanish Syntax and Semantics
• +3 more

Abraham Chin Chang is a Professor of English & Modern Languages at Taylor University, serving as Director of On-Campus International Programs, Korean Initiatives, and the Upland Sejong Institute. His academic roles include former Department Chair (2015–2020) and Director of the Korean Program. He holds a PhD in Romance Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin, an MA in Spanish Linguistics from Instituto Caro y Cuervo, and a BA from Korea University. His research focuses on applied linguistics, Spanish syntax, second language acquisition, and comparative language structures. Notable works include studies on vocabulary acquisition methods, language proficiency classification, and syntactic analysis of determiner phrases in Spanish, English, and Korean. Dr. Chang has received the Doctoral Dissertation Award (2004) and the Professional Development Award (2003). He has presented at conferences such as the Texas Linguistics Society and the Interdisciplinary Conference in the Humanities. His contributions extend to curriculum development and international educational initiatives, emphasizing globalized learning environments. He leads the Upland Sejong Institute and fosters international programs at Taylor University, integrating language education with cultural exchange. His teaching philosophy emphasizes mentorship, with students describing him as a mentor beyond traditional academia, fostering a supportive community through shared values and collaborative learning.

Michael FortescueView profile

Professor

• Eskimo-Aleut languages
• Linguistic typology
• Cognitive linguistics
• +7 more

Michael Fortescue is a Professor of General Linguistics (emeritus) at the University of Copenhagen's Department of General and Applied Linguistics. He holds an associate position at St Hugh’s College, Oxford University since 2011. His career spans over four decades with academic roles including Docent in Eskimology and Head of the Department of Eskimology (1985–1987). He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Greenland, Alaska, Chukotka, and British Columbia, focusing on endangered languages like West Greenlandic, Koyukon, and Kwakwala. Education: B.A. (Slavic Languages, UC Berkeley, 1966), M.A. (Slavic Languages, UC Berkeley, 1970), PhD (Linguistics, University of Edinburgh, 1978). Research interests include linguistic typology, polysynthesis, cognitive linguistics, and the documentation of Eskimo-Aleut and Chukotko-Kamchatkan languages. He has authored major reference works such as The Oxford Handbook of Polysynthesis (2017) and edited the Comparative Eskimo Dictionary (2010). His work bridges theoretical linguistics with empirical fieldwork. Key awards include a Danish government exchange scholarship (1978) and leadership roles in the Linguistic Circle of Copenhagen. His publications emphasize language universals, historical reconstruction, and the intersection of language and cognition. Fieldwork and collaborative efforts have involved indigenous communities across the Arctic and Pacific Northwest. He has held visiting positions at institutions including UC Berkeley, La Trobe University, and the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics.

• Computational Linguistics
• Natural Language Processing
• Machine Translation
• +7 more

Jan Hajič is a Professor at Charles University in Prague , where he serves as Deputy Director of the Institute of Formal and Applied Linguistics. Since 2016, he holds an Adjunct Professor position at the University of Colorado Boulder. His leadership extends to directing the LINDAT/CLARIN infrastructure, a key part of the EU Clarin network, and chairing the META-NET executive board. PhD in Computational Linguistics from Charles University (1995) Over 180 publications and a book on computational morphology Principal Investigator for major NSF, EU, and Czech grants His research focuses on computational linguistics , natural language processing , machine translation , and semantic annotation . He pioneered the Uniform Meaning Representation (UMR) project and contributed to foundational resources like the Prague Dependency Treebank . His work spans multilingual NLP , language technology infrastructure , and digital language equality initiatives. Recent publications highlight advancements in semantic role labeling , event-type ontologies , and interoperable language technology platforms . He has led projects such as Humane-AI-Net and European Language Grid , emphasizing cross-cultural communication and open science. Scientific Awards: Donatio Prize of Charles University (2022) Silver Medal of Charles University (2020) Silver Medal I of Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (2012) Award of Czech Academy of Sciences for best 'Information Society' project (2009) Co-author of Best Student Paper at EMNLP (2005) Silver Medal of Charles University (2001)

• Corpus Linguistics
• English Philology
• Linguistic Variation
• +4 more

Ana Elina Martínez Insua is a full-time academic affiliated with the Department of English, French and German Philology at the Faculty of Philology and Translation , University of Vigo. Her research focuses on linguistic variation , corpus-driven analysis , and syntactic structures across historical and modern English contexts. Her work spans the study of existential constructions , thematic organization , passivisation , and nominal phrase complexity , with a strong emphasis on systemic functional linguistics and discourse analysis . She has contributed extensively to understanding how textual metafunctions and syntactic strategies evolve across genres and time periods. Research Group: HI19 Linguistic Variation and Textual Categorization (LVTC) Doctorate: University of Santiago de Compostela (2003)

Maria KouneliView profile

Assistant Professor

• Syntax
• Morphology
• Number
• +4 more

Maria Kouneli is an Assistant Professor of Linguistics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, joining in 2023. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor (Juniorprofessorin) of Linguistics at the University of Leipzig. Her research focuses on theoretical syntax and morphology, with a specialization in Kalenjin languages (Southern Nilotic) spoken in Kenya. Key research interests include syntax-morphology interfaces, agreement phenomena, vowel harmony, and nominal classification systems. Her academic journey includes a PhD in Linguistics from New York University (2019), where her dissertation examined the syntax of number and modification in Kipsigis. She has conducted extensive fieldwork on underserved languages, contributing to both syntactic theory and descriptive linguistics. Notable recent works include studies on vowel harmony mechanisms and agreement patterns in Kipsigis, published in Natural Language & Linguistic Theory . Dr. Kouneli has been invited to present at prominent venues such as the 42nd West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics (WCCFL) at UC Berkeley (April 2024). Her publications span topics like complementation structures, ergativity, and syntactic limits on phonological processes. Office hours are held at 73 Easton Ave, Office 203, with contact via maria.kouneli@rutgers.edu.

William LambView profile

Professor

• Scottish Gaelic Linguistics
• Traditional Narrative
• Ethnomusicology
• +4 more

William Lamb is Professor in Gaelic Ethnology and Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh's School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, with a joint affiliation to the Edinburgh Futures Institute. His academic journey includes a BA in Psychology from University of Maryland Baltimore County, MSc in Celtic Studies and PhD in Linguistics from University of Edinburgh, complemented by an MSc in Speech and Language Processing. Lamb's administrative roles encompass Departmental Director of Research, former Director of Learning and Teaching, and Acting Head of Department. Lamb's research examines three interconnected domains: Scottish Gaelic linguistics (focusing on dialectology and corpus linguistics), traditional narrative (particularly formulaic language in oral storytelling), and Gaelic music (especially the historical connections between vocal traditions and instrumental dance music). His methodological approach combines ethnographic fieldwork with computational techniques like NLP and dialectometry. His 15 most recent publications demonstrate a methodological evolution from traditional linguistic analysis toward computational approaches for Gaelic preservation. Early works focus on grammatical description and ethnographic documentation, while recent articles feature speech recognition systems, handwriting recognition for archival manuscripts, and cross-lingual text expansion techniques. Thematically, they cluster around language technology development (50%), morphological analysis (30%), and musicology (20%). Lamb leads significant research initiatives including 'Gaelic Speech Recognition for Media, Education and Research' (£225k, Scottish Government) and the AHRC/IRC project 'Decoding Hidden Heritages in Gaelic Traditional Narrative with Text-Mining and Phylogenetics' (£405k). His team collaborates with BBC, MG Alba, and Tobar an Dualchais to develop Gaelic transcription technologies. Knowledge exchange activities include Gaelic dance-song workshops and a CD recording project with Greentrax Recordings. He coordinates undergraduate courses including Scottish Studies, Traditional Narrative, and Gaelic Dialectology, and teaches postgraduate courses on traditional narrative and research methods. Lamb serves on external boards including Tobar an Dualchais, AHRC Peer Review College, and Faclair na Gàidhlig steering committee.

Walter BisangView profile

Professor

• Linguistic Typology
• Language Contact/Areal Typology
• Grammaticalization
• +8 more

**Walter Bisang** is a Full Professor of General and Comparative Linguistics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz since 1992. He holds memberships in the Academia Europaea (since 2016) and the Academy of Sciences and Literature, Mainz (since 2015). His research focuses on linguistic typology, grammaticalization, and cross-linguistic variation, with special attention to East Asian, Southeast Asian, and Caucasian languages. Bisang has directed major research initiatives, including the Collaborative Research Center (SFB 295) on 'Cultural and Linguistic Contacts' (1999–2008) and contributed to the PLATO project on language, cognition, and education. **Education**: PhD in General Linguistics, University of Zurich (1990); studies in Thai, Cambodian, and linguistics at SOAS, University of London (1986–1987). Earlier studies in linguistics, Chinese, and Georgian at the University of Zurich (1978–1986). **Research Interests**: Hidden complexity in grammar, grammaticalization processes, sociolinguistic factors in language change, and the interplay between language structure and cognitive processing. He has conducted fieldwork in Asia, Africa, and Europe, including visits at Zhejiang University, University of Hong Kong, and Chulalongkorn University. **Key Projects**: Editor-in-Chief of *Trends in Linguistics* (1996–2009), coordinator of the Research Center SOCUM (2009–2014), and advisor to over 30 PhD students annually through the Landesgraduiertenförderung (1996–2010). **Awards**: Recognized for contributions to linguistics through prestigious academic fellowships and editorial roles. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with interdisciplinary studies in education, neurolinguistics, and cognitive science.

Jan-Wouter ZwartView profile

Professor

• Syntax
• Linguistic Typology
• Morphology
• +3 more

Prof. Jan-Wouter Zwart is a Professor of Theoretical Linguistics at the Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen. His research focuses on syntax, linguistic typology, and morphological strength, with a particular emphasis on Germanic languages and cross-linguistic syntactic structures. He holds an office at the Harmony building (Room 1315.0401) and can be reached via c.j.w.zwart@rug.nl. Research Interests: - Syntax and its interface with morphology and semantics - Typological studies of alignment systems and verb positioning - Historical developments in Dutch and Afrikaans syntax - Formal syntactic theory and syntactic derivation mechanisms - Methodological approaches to linguistic analysis Recent work explores coordination structures, modal adverb placement, and rethinking alignment typology. His contributions appear in leading venues like the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics and Syntax-focused volumes. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, though his extensive publication record indicates academic recognition. He has no listed advisees or grants in the provided texts. His professional activities are centered at the University of Groningen without external roles.

• Comparative Linguistics
• Syntax
• Pragmatics
• +8 more

Professor Kristine Bentzen holds a position in Nordic Linguistics at UiT The Arctic University of Norway's Department of Language and Culture. Her affiliations include the AcqVA research group (Acquisition, Variation & Attrition) and involvement in projects like DASAGO (North Sami Child Language Acquisition). Her research focuses on comparative linguistics, syntax, pragmatics, and language revitalization, particularly in Sami languages. She has led projects funded by the Research Council of Norway and developed tools like the MacArthur-Bates CDI adapted to North Sami. Her work emphasizes multilingualism, child language acquisition, and the interplay between syntax and information structure. Recent studies investigate Sami language transmission across generations and the role of parental language input. She teaches Nordic linguistics, multilingualism, and Sami languages at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including speech therapy programs. Collaborations include projects on Arctic childhood development (SamBa) and North Germanic child language syntax. Key contributions include publications on object shift in Scandinavian languages, North Sami word order variation, and bilingualism in Sami families. Her involvement in the DASAGO project (2011–2017) established a corpus of North Sami-speaking children and explored grammatical phenomena in Indigenous languages. She is currently pursuing a master's in speech therapy, aiming to bridge linguistics and clinical practice. Professional activities include podcast appearances (e.g., NRK's Språksnakk) and advisory roles in language revitalization initiatives. Her research integrates theoretical syntax with sociolinguistic applications, addressing both academic and community-driven language preservation goals.

Hongming ZhangView profile

Professor

• Chinese Linguistics
• Syntax-Phonology Interface
• Prosodic Phonology
• +8 more

Hongming Zhang is a Professor of Chinese Linguistics and Head of the Chinese Language and Linguistics Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he has been a faculty member since 1994. He also directs the UW-Tianjin Summer Chinese Program and holds editorial leadership roles in major journals and book series in Chinese linguistics. Ph.D., University of California at San Diego, Linguistics (1992) M.A., University of California at San Diego, Linguistics (1990) M.A., Fudan University, Chinese Linguistics (1984) B.A., Fudan University, Chinese Language (1981) His research focuses on the syntax-phonology interface, prosodic phonology, poetic prosody, and the history of the Chinese language. He has made significant contributions to the understanding of tone sandhi, tonal representation in dialects, and the linguistic structure of classical Chinese poetry. His work bridges theoretical linguistics and literary analysis, particularly in the context of historical and dialectal variation. The most recent articles highlight a strong trend in prosodic studies across Chinese dialects, historical phonology, and the linguistic analysis of classical poetry. His publications consistently emphasize empirical data from understudied dialects and integrate formal linguistic theory with philological insights. Vilas Associate Award (UW-Madison, 2003–05) Chiang Ching Kuo Research Grants (1997–99, 2005–06) Chern Shiing-shen Chair Professor (Nankai University, 2006) Chang Jiang Scholar Chair Professor (China MOE, 2009) Teacher of the Year 2015 (Wisconsin Association of Chinese Language Teachers) Distinguished Guest Professor (multiple Chinese universities) Professor Zhang has advised numerous students and led curriculum development in Chinese language and linguistics. He has secured research grants from prestigious foundations and has held leadership roles in international scholarly organizations. He is currently executive editor of the International Journal of Chinese Linguistics and series editor for Routledge Studies in Chinese Linguistics . He leads a research group focused on prosodic theory and Chinese linguistic analysis, contributing to interdisciplinary projects connecting linguistics, literature, and language education.

Pilar ValenzuelaView profile

Professor

• Linguistics
• Panoan Languages
• Kawapanan Languages
• +7 more

Dr. Pilar Valenzuela is a Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences , Chapman University. Her work focuses on Panoan and Kawapanan languages of the Peruvian Amazon, including Shiwilu (Jebero) and Amahuaca , with expertise in linguistic typology, phonology, morphosyntax, and language revitalization . Education: Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (BA in Hispanic Linguistics & Literature, Diploma in Anthropology) University of Oregon (MA and PhD in Linguistics) Research Highlights: She has published three books and numerous articles on synchronic and historical syntax , verb borrowing , and ethnobiological taxonomies . Her PhD dissertation on Shipibo-Konibo grammar won the Mary R. Haas Book Award . Awards & Grants: Recipient of the Wang-Fradkin Professorship (2006-2008) and a National Science Foundation grant (DEL BCS-0853285) for documenting Kawapanan languages. In 2012, she received the Global Engagement Research Award from Chapman University. Teaching: Offers courses in Spanish linguistics, advanced grammar, and documenting Shiwilu , a critically endangered language. Collaborates with Chapman undergraduate students on creating a trilingual (Shiwilu-Spanish-English) dictionary . Publications: Recent work explores lexical tone in Amahuaca , temporal constructions , and body-part terminology in Pano-Takana languages.

Thomas JügelView profile

Researcher

• Historical Linguistics
• Comparative Linguistics
• Ergativity and Alignment
• +4 more

Dr. Thomas Jügel is a Researcher and Project Leader at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, focusing on the Middle Persian language and Zoroastrian texts through the MPCD project. He holds a PhD in Comparative Linguistics from Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (2013) and an MA in Iranic Studies from Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Berlin (2004). His research explores historical linguistics, ergativity, tense/aspect systems, and Iranic dialectology, with a particular emphasis on Middle Iranic languages. Key projects include the digital annotation of Middle Persian corpora and investigations into Kurdish linguistic history. His academic career includes postdoctoral research in Sweden, France, and Japan, supported by grants from DFG, JSPS, and Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung. Jügel’s publications span studies on Middle Persian morphology, Avestan computational analysis, and the syntactic evolution of Iranic languages. He collaborates internationally, contributing to journals like Science and Bibliotheca Orientalis , and co-edits volumes on word order variation and Indo-European language origins. Current roles include leading the 'Aspect in Middle Persian' project and serving as a Research Associate at the Center for Religious Studies. His work bridges traditional linguistic analysis with computational methods, advancing digital corpus tools for ancient and medieval texts.

Petra GoedegebuureView profile

Associate Professor

• Linguistic Hittitology
• Syntactic Alignment
• Discourse Cohesion
• +5 more

Petra Goedegebuure is an Associate Professor of Hittitology and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Chicago , affiliated with the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures and the Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (NELC) department. She specializes in the intersection of linguistics , philology , and cultural analysis of ancient Anatolian societies. Research Focus: Syntactic alignment, discourse cohesion, information structure, language change in contact situations (Hattic-Hittite, Hittite-Luwian, Hittite-Hurrian), and semiotic analysis of Hittite texts. Advising: Works with students on topics spanning Anatolian languages, West-Semitic languages, and extinct language analysis. Scientific Awards: Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research Fellowship Franke Institute of the Humanities Fellowship American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship Recent Publications: Focus on Hittite demonstratives, core case semantics, Luwian hieroglyphs, and language communities in colonial Anatolia.