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Niklas Erben JohanssonView profile

Associate Professor

• Sound Symbolism
• Iconicity
• Language Evolution
• +5 more

Niklas Erben Johansson is an Associate Professor and active researcher in General Linguistics at Lund University's Centre for Languages and Literature. His work focuses on sound symbolism, iconicity, and their implications for language evolution and typology. Academic Rank: Associate Professor (docent) Institution: Lund University Department: Department of General Linguistics Email: niklas.erben_johansson@ling.lu.se His postdoctoral research investigates vocal iconicity's role in lexical access and language change, analyzing cross-linguistic noun categorization systems and segment placement effects. Current projects include The Sound of Hand (2024–) funded by multiple Swedish foundations. Recent publications address phonological typology, linguistic archaeology methodologies, and language perception aesthetics. Notable awards include the 2020 dissertation prize from Vetenskapssocieteten i Lund. He actively participates in academic conferences and media outreach on sound symbolism and language universals. Scientific Awards: Vetenskapssocieteten i Lunds avhandlingspris (2020)

Abdel-Khalig AliView profile

Associate Professor

• Synchronic dialectal phonology
• Prosodic phonology and metrical structure
• Morphophonology
• +3 more

Abdel-Khalig Ali is an Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Linguistics at the University of Toronto, affiliated with the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. He specializes in the phonology of contemporary Sudanese Arabic dialects and is on leave from July 2025 to June 2026. Education: PhD, University of Toronto Research Interests: His work focuses on synchronic and diachronic phonology, prosodic structure, morphophonology, and the interaction between phonology and syntax. Key topics include the phonology-syntax interface, metrical structure, and the emergence of morphophonological features in spoken Arabic dialects. Publications: Recent works include Perspectives on Arabic Linguistics XXXIII (2021), Post-lexical strata... (2019), and Prosodic domains... (2017), exploring themes like phrasal phonology, syllabification, and Sudanese Arabic dialectal features. Teaching and research are central to his career, emphasizing dialectal analysis and linguistic theory.

• Phonetics
• Phonology
• Ultrasound Imaging of Speech
• +4 more

Suzy Ahn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Ottawa, serving as Co-Director of the Sound Patterns Lab. Her research focuses on the correlation between articulation and acoustics, with a strong emphasis on ultrasound tongue imaging and laryngeal contrasts in speech production. She collaborates extensively with scholars like Marc Brunelle, Beth MacLeod, and Daniel Schweizer on projects involving Korean, French, and Austronesian/Austroasiatic languages. Current research includes studies on laryngeal contrasts in Korean, tongue position in Laurentian French vowels, and articulatory aspects of Javanese and Raglai languages. Ahn has secured funding through SSHRC grants, including a 2023-2025 grant on phonetic imitation and a 2022-2025 grant investigating sound change in Austronesian languages. Her work bridges phonetics, phonology, and bilingualism, with a focus on experimental methods and fieldwork. Her recent publications explore topics from Seoul Korean obstruents to vowel laxing in Laurentian French, demonstrating a commitment to both theoretical and applied linguistic research. Ahn's lab, the Sound Patterns Lab, facilitates cutting-edge investigations into speech production using advanced imaging and acoustic technologies.

Francis KatambaView profile

Professor

• English Phonology
• Morphological Theory
• Bantu Languages
• +3 more

Francis Katamba is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at Lancaster University specializing in English phonology, morphological theory, and Bantu languages. His research combines theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of African languages and English variation. Key research areas: Phonological and morphological interfaces in word formation Structure of Luganda and other Bantu languages Historical development of English morphology Corpus-based approaches to linguistic variation He co-authored the comprehensive textbook 'English Language: Description, Variation and Context' used in linguistics programs worldwide. Other publications examine backformation processes and phonetically motivated word-creation across languages. He has developed pedagogical resources for morphology education and contributed to language documentation projects in Uganda. His work on Luganda phonology established foundational models for Bantu syllable structure analysis.

Ida SyvertsenView profile

Associate Professor

• Sociolinguistics
• Multilingualism
• Phonetics and Phonology
• +3 more

Ida Syvertsen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Languages, Literature and Culture at Østfold University College. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (2024) and has taught courses in English linguistics and language didactics for pre-service and in-service teachers. Her academic interests focus on sociolinguistics, multilingualism, phonetics, and the role of English as a global language, particularly among displaced populations. Education: Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics (2024), Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences M.Phil. in English Language (2016), University of Oslo B.A. in English (2014), University of Agder Research Interests: Her work critically examines the sociolinguistic dimensions of English use among forced migrants, such as Congolese refugees in Norway. She investigates how multilingualism and mobility shape phonetic patterns and the valuation of English in diverse contexts. Publications: Her recent work includes studies on language capital among refugees, syllable structures in multilingual speech, and the global value of English from Southern perspectives. These publications reflect her commitment to understanding language dynamics in migration and education. Grants & Collaborations: Her research aligns with interdisciplinary projects in the Language and Society research group. She has contributed to studies on English as a tool for socio-economic mobility and language policy in multicultural settings.

Adam UssishkinView profile

Professor

• Morphology
• Phonology
• Cognitive Linguistics
• +3 more

Adam Ussishkin is a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Arizona, specializing in morphology, phonology, and cognitive linguistics. His research focuses on the intersection of linguistic theory and experimental methods, particularly in Semitic languages like Maltese and Hebrew, as well as Celtic languages such as Scottish Gaelic. Ussishkin's work examines how cognitive processes influence linguistic structure, including studies on morphological priming, phonological neutralization, and the evolution of phonotactic patterns. He has conducted experimental research on lexical access in Maltese and Hebrew, exploring how incremental word processing shapes language evolution and morphological diversity. His articles highlight themes such as fixed prosodic templates in Semitic languages, the role of prosody in diachronic change, and methodological challenges in fieldwork with endangered language communities. Ussishkin has also contributed to the development of linguistic corpora, including web-based tools for Maltese lexical analysis. While no formal advising roles or grants are explicitly listed, his extensive publication record reflects a focus on theoretical and experimental linguistics, with a particular emphasis on crosslinguistic universals and language typology.

• Phonetics and Phonology of English and Slavic Languages
• Loanword Adaptation
• Optimality Theory
• +3 more

Kateryna Laidler is an Assistant Professor at the Department of English and General Linguistics , Institute of Linguistics and Literary Studies, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University , Lublin. Her academic work focuses on phonological adaptation of English loanwords in Slavic languages, particularly Russian and Ukrainian, with interdisciplinary connections to gender linguistics and acoustic phonetics. Research Interests : Phonetics/Phonology of English and Slavic languages, loanword adaptation mechanisms, optimality theory, and gender linguistics. Methodology : Combines theoretical phonology with empirical studies on pronunciation patterns in language contact scenarios. Conference Contributions : Presented at major Polish and international linguistics conferences (e.g., Poznań Linguistic Meeting, Linguistics Beyond and Within) on topics like gendered occupational terms, /h/ adaptation in Russian, and consonant cluster processing. Her publications (2015-2024) explore cross-linguistic phonological constraints, orthography-perception interactions, and sociophonetic aspects of loanword processing.

Sertan Ali BEKİROĞLUView profile

Associate Professor

• Turkish Language
• Old Turkic Languages
• Historical Linguistics
• +4 more

Sertan Ali BEKİROĞLU is an Associate Professor in the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Gaziantep University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. His academic expertise spans Turkish linguistics, historical language development, and Turkic dialectology with emphasis on structural and socio-linguistic dimensions. Education: PhD in Old Turkish Language, Firat University (2014) MA in Turkish Language and Literature, Gaziantep University (2005) Licence in Contemporary Turkish Dialects and Literatures, Mugla Sitki Kocman University (1999) His research focuses on Old Turkic languages (Orkhon, Uyghur, Karakhanid), Modern Turkish dialects (Anatolian, Ottoman, Türkiye Turkish), and Northeastern Turkic languages (Khwarazm, Kipchak, Chagatai). He investigates morphological reduplication, syntactic structures, punctuation evolution, and socio-linguistic phenomena including gender influences on contemporary Turkish. Recent publications reveal strong emphasis on Southeastern Turkish dialects (Osmaniye), historical grammar of Old Anatolian Turkish, and literary linguistics through figures like Âşık Veysel. His work bridges philological analysis with contemporary linguistic theory across 14 peer-reviewed articles since 2013. Dr. BEKİROĞLU has supervised Master's research on poetic syntax and taught courses including Turkish Language History, Contemporary Dialects, and Syntax. Prior academic appointments include lecturing positions at Kharkiv State Pedagogical University (Ukraine) and Nizhninovgorod State Language University (Russia).

• Phonology
• Phonetics
• Psycholinguistics
• +3 more

Karthik Durvasula, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University, where he conducts experimental research on phonological representations and features. His work bridges theoretical phonology with empirical methodologies to investigate speakers' knowledge of phonological generalizations across diverse languages. His academic background includes a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Delaware. Durvasula's research focuses on experimental phonology, employing techniques from psycholinguistics and phonetics to probe questions about phonological feature representation. He investigates syllable structure, neutralization phenomena, and speech perception mechanisms, with cross-linguistic studies spanning Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, and English. His approach integrates acoustic analysis, articulatory coordination measurements, and perceptual experiments to address theoretical questions in phonological representation. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2025-2019) reveals consistent emphasis on experimental phonology, particularly syllable structure in consonant clusters, phonological vs. phonetic neutralization, and perceptual learning mechanisms. His work demonstrates how experimental data can resolve theoretical debates in generative phonology, with recurring methodologies including acoustic measurements, gestural timing analysis, and cross-linguistic perceptual studies. No scientific awards or honors are documented in the available information. While specific details about graduate student advising and research grants are not provided, his publication record indicates active mentorship in experimental linguistics. His research program likely involves securing external funding for laboratory-based phonetic studies and cross-linguistic fieldwork. Though no dedicated laboratory is mentioned, his experimental work suggests collaboration with phonetics and psycholinguistics research groups, potentially involving speech production and perception facilities at Michigan State University.

• Phonology
• Morphology
• Computational Linguistics
• +6 more

Stephanie Shih is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Southern California. Her research employs computational and quantitative methods to investigate phonological systems and their interfaces with other linguistic domains, particularly morphosyntax and cognition. She directs a research lab focused on modeling language as a cognitive system through data-driven approaches. Research Focus Shih's work bridges theoretical linguistics with computational modeling, spanning: Phonological theory (tone, harmony, prosody) Sound symbolism and cross-modal cognition Morphosyntax-phonology interfaces Statistical learning of lexical patterns Cross-linguistic corpus analysis Scientometrics of linguistic scholarship Her recent publications demonstrate strong emphasis on: Empirical studies of sound symbolism across languages (e.g., baseball names, Pokémonastics) Computational modeling of phonological variation Interface phenomena in Austronesian languages (Tagalog word order) Prosodic structure in text-setting (Japanese/English) No awards or student advisees are documented in available materials.

Johanneke SytsemaView profile

Lecturer

• Historical Linguistics
• Comparative Germanic Linguistics
• Phonology
• +3 more

Dr. Johanneke Sytsema serves as a College Lecturer in Linguistics at the Faculty of Linguistics, Comparative Philology and Phonetics, University of Oxford. Holding an MA in German and PhD in Old Frisian from the Free University, Amsterdam, she specializes in historical Germanic linguistics with extensive manuscript editing experience. Her educational background includes: MA in German PhD in Old Frisian (Free University, Amsterdam) Dr. Sytsema's research centers on historical and comparative Germanic linguistics, with deep expertise in Middle Dutch, Old Frisian, phonology, and morphology. Her work examines prosody, rhyme, metre, suffixes, and romance loanwords through comparative analysis of medieval Germanic texts, bridging philological scholarship with linguistic theory to illuminate language evolution across Dutch, Frisian, and English traditions. She actively investigates how poetic structures reveal phonological patterns and historical language contact. Her publication record demonstrates sustained focus on Middle Dutch and Old Frisian philology, utilizing verse evidence to explore phonological phenomena like open syllable lengthening and metrical grouping. The research consistently examines textual reconstruction, loanword integration, and the interplay between poetic form and linguistic structure, often through collaborative work with leading scholars in Germanic linguistics. Dr. Sytsema has secured AHRC funding for diplomatic editions of Middle Dutch manuscripts and maintains active involvement with linguistics collections in Oxford's Taylorian and Bodleian Libraries. She mentors students through undergraduate teaching and supervises research projects focused on historical Germanic languages, while also contributing to the Old Frisian Summer School in Groningen.

• Historical Linguistics
• Phonology
• Czech Language
• +3 more

Prof. Radek Čech, Ph.D., serves as a Professor at the Institute of Czech Language within the Faculty of Arts at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. His office is located in building D/D.312 at Arna Nováka 1, 602 00 Brno, with contact details including phone 549 49 3306 and email cehradek@phil.muni.cz. His research spans Historical Linguistics, Phonology, Czech Language, Quantitative Linguistics, Corpus Linguistics, and Slavic Linguistics, focusing on diachronic phonological evolution, syllabic structures, enclitic word order, and statistical laws in language. Prof. Čech employs interdisciplinary methodologies blending philological analysis with computational techniques to examine historical Czech texts, Old Church Slavonic materials, and cross-linguistic patterns. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals concentrated research on syllabic consonant development in Czech, particularly through corpus-based studies of Old Czech verse and biblical translations. Key trends include the application of the Sonority Sequencing Principle to historical data, quantitative validation of the Menzerath-Altmann law across languages (including Chinese), and computational stylometric analysis of Slavic texts. His work consistently bridges theoretical phonology with empirical historical evidence. Prof. Čech actively collaborates with researchers like Marketa Zikova, Martin Brezina, and Pavel Kosek, presenting at international conferences such as QUALICO 2025 and organizing events like the Diachronic Slavonic Syntax series. His contributions emphasize methodological innovation in combining traditional philology with digital humanities approaches for Slavic linguistic research.

Basboll HansView profile

Professor

• General Linguistics
• Scandinavian Linguistics
• Phonology
• +8 more

Hans Basbøll is a Professor of Scandinavian Linguistics at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense, where he has served since 1975. He previously held administrative roles as Dean and Prorector of the university. His research focuses on sound structure, syllable models (e.g., the Sonority Syllable Model), and the interplay between phonology/phonetics and syntax/morphology. He has authored seminal works like The Phonology of Danish (OUP 2005) and contributed to language acquisition studies through large-scale projects. He collaborates internationally, particularly in neuroscience and computational linguistics. Notable honors include membership in the Royal Danish Academy (1991) and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (2009). His work on Danish stød and phonotactics has advanced understanding of grammatical and prosodic phenomena. Though no specific grants or student advisees are listed, his research emphasizes empirical methods and interdisciplinary teamwork, including collaborations with Nina Grønnum in phonetic experiments.

Chenzi XuView profile

Research Fellow

• Automatic Speech Recognition
• Prosody
• Psycholinguistics
• +3 more

Dr. Chenzi Xu is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the Clarendon Institute within the Faculty of Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics at the University of Oxford. Their research focuses on prosody, speech production/perception, and the intersection of speech processing with forensic linguistics. Dr. Xu's work employs quantitative methods to analyze voice quality, pitch variation, and sociolinguistic identity markers in Mandarin dialects, particularly 'Plastic Mandarin.' Education: Their doctoral (DPhil) research investigated prosodic patterns in unstressed syllables of regional Mandarin accents, combining acoustic analysis with sociolinguistic factors. This work emphasizes structured variation in pitch and voice quality across linguistic contexts and social identities. Research Interests: Dr. Xu explores automatic speech recognition systems' sensitivity to vocal variation, forensic speaker recognition, and cross-linguistic tonal phenomena. Their work bridges computational modeling and experimental psychology, as seen in studies on mismatch negativity (MMN) responses to consonant durations and ERP evidence of Mandarin sibilant perception. Key Research Themes: Their publications address prosodic analysis in Bengali question intonation, vocal quality in telephony speech, and methodological improvements in citation tone studies. Recent work (2023-2024) emphasizes forensic applications of speaker recognition systems and acoustic feature mismatches in ASR. Awards: Recipient of the prestigious Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship supporting innovative research in linguistics and phonetics. Labs & Affiliations: Active in the Phonetics Lab and Language & Brain Lab, collaborating on projects at the intersection of speech processing and cognitive science.

Russell BarlowView profile

Researcher

• Language Documentation
• Historical Linguistics
• Linguistic Typology
• +5 more

Russell Barlow is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution within the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. His work focuses on endangered languages of Papua New Guinea, particularly within the Keram language family. His educational background includes: PhD in Linguistics (2018), University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa MA in Linguistics (2016), University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa BA in Indo-European Studies (2013), CUNY Baccalaureate BA in Film Studies (2006), Wesleyan University Barlow's research centers on language documentation, historical linguistics, and linguistic typology with a geographical focus on the Pacific region. His fieldwork-intensive approach emphasizes preserving endangered Keram languages like Ulwa, Pondi, and Tomoip. He investigates numeral systems, language contact phenomena between Papuan and Austronesian languages, and morphosyntactic structures including antipassive constructions. His methodology combines traditional fieldwork with computational approaches to language evolution. His publication record shows consistent output in top linguistics journals with recent work examining numeral colexification patterns, areal loanwords in New Britain, and detailed grammatical descriptions of endangered languages. The publications demonstrate interdisciplinary connections between linguistic typology, cultural evolution, and cognitive science. As an active member of the Comparative Oceanic Linguistics (CoOL) research group, Barlow has secured significant research funding through Fulbright and DAAD programs. His fieldwork spans Indonesia (Gorontalo State University), Papua New Guinea, and Germany (MPI-SHH in Jena prior to Leipzig). His research infrastructure includes extensive language archives at SOAS, PARADISEC, and Kaipuleohone, ensuring long-term preservation of endangered language materials. Current projects involve analyzing esoteric numeral systems and cross-linguistic patterns in infix preservation.