Find Academic Supervisors

• Linguistics
• Descriptive Linguistics
• Documentary Linguistics
• +7 more

Mark Post is a Senior Lecturer and Honours Coordinator in the Discipline of Linguistics at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney. He also serves as Deputy Head of School (Humanities) and is affiliated with the China Studies Centre, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, and The Vere Gordon Childe Centre. His educational background includes a BA Hons from Wesleyan University, an MA from the University of Oregon, and a PhD from La Trobe University. Dr. Post's research focuses on describing and explaining the typologies and relationships among Greater Mainland Southeast Asian and Himalayan languages. His descriptive work relies exclusively on primary field data, with interests in improving fieldwork methodologies. He approaches linguistic explanation from a functional-diachronic perspective, viewing language as a dynamic process whose structures emerge from patterns of discourse and interaction. His extensive publication record reveals a strong focus on Eastern Himalayan languages, particularly Tani languages, with research spanning linguistic typology, historical linguistics, and language documentation. Key themes include classifiers, deixis, applicatives, and the ethnolinguistic prehistory of the Eastern Himalaya across more than 50 publications since 2004. His notable recognition includes: 2011 Recipient of the Association for Linguistic Typology's Pāṇini Award Dr. Post has supervised research students including Chintan SHETH on ethno-linguistic prehistory in the Eastern Himalaya. His grant history includes significant projects such as 'Pseudo grains and adaptiveness in the Eastern Himalayas' (ARC, 2023), 'Center for Cultural Linguistic Diversity - Eastern Himalayas' (Firebird Foundation, 2022), and 'A Documentation of the Upper Belt variety of Minyong (Adi)' (Endangered Languages Documentation Programme). He is a life member of the Galo Language Development Committee (Arunachal Pradesh, India) and actively participates in the Association for Linguistic Typology, Australian Linguistic Society, and North East Indian Linguistics Society.

• Australian Indigenous languages
• Linguistics
• Syntax
• +5 more

Rachel Nordlinger is a Professor of Linguistics and Director of the Research Unit for Indigenous Language at the University of Melbourne's School of Languages and Linguistics. Her research focuses on documenting and describing Australian Indigenous languages, with a particular emphasis on syntactic and morphological theory. She has conducted extensive fieldwork with communities speaking Bilinarra, Wambaya, Gudanji, Murrinhpatha, and Marri Ngarr, contributing to language preservation efforts. She holds a PhD from Stanford University and has authored influential works including A Grammar of Wambaya and co-edited volumes like The Languages and Linguistics of Australia . Nordlinger is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities (2017) and leads major grants like the ARC Centre of Excellence for Dynamics of Language (2014-2026). Her work integrates linguistic theory with community-driven language revitalization projects, emphasizing the interconnectedness of language and cultural knowledge. Key research grants include projects on polysynthetic language processing (2021-2025), Indigenous language documentation, and cross-linguistic syntactic analysis. Nordlinger collaborates with institutions such as PARADISEC and the Kanamkek-Yile Ngala Museum to preserve endangered language materials. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges formal linguistic analysis with applied community linguistics.

Trevor EvansView profile

Associate Professor

• Ancient Languages
• Classical Greek Studies
• Documentary Texts Analysis
• +3 more

Trevor Evans is an Associate Professor in the Department of History and Archaeology at Macquarie University, within the School of Humanities. He specializes in ancient languages, particularly post-classical Greek, and focuses on documentary texts, the Septuagint, and lexicography. Evans holds a BA (Hons) from the University of New England (1992) and a PhD from the University of Sydney (1998), supervised by John A.L. Lee. His career includes roles as a Research Officer and Macquarie University Research Fellow before joining the University of Oxford as an Assistant Editor of the Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources and Senior Golding Fellow. Returning to Macquarie in 2007, he has held roles such as Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor, coordinating ancient-language teaching and directing the Macquarie Ancient Languages School (MALS). Educations: Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Classics, University of New England (1992) PhD in Ancient Greek Linguistics, University of Sydney (1998) Research Interests: Evans’ work centers on ancient languages, including the linguistic analysis of Greek papyri and inscriptions, the Septuagint’s syntactic features, and lexicography. He explores sociolinguistic aspects of documentary texts, such as the Zenon Archive, and Hebrew influence on Greek biblical translations. His studies bridge textual criticism, historical linguistics, and cultural history. Recent Article Trends: Recent publications address Koine Greek in documentary sources, Septuagint syntax, and lexicographical challenges. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining textual evidence with sociolinguistic analysis to uncover linguistic and cultural dynamics in ancient texts. Awards: 2021: Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities Grants & Advising: Evans has led projects such as The Good, the Indifferent, and the Unintelligent: A Comparative Lexical Analysis of Three Books of the Septuagint (2018–present) and Written and spoken Greek from the fifth century CE (2014). He advises students on topics like Greek documentary texts and Septuagint language. Labs/Teams: As Director of the Macquarie Ancient Languages School (MALS), he oversees programs in ancient Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, fostering interdisciplinary language education.

Jonathan KummerfeldView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Natural Language Processing
• Artificial Intelligence
• Human-Computer Interaction
• +4 more

Dr. Jonathan Kummerfeld is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney's School of Computer Science, specializing in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and AI collaboration. He holds a PhD from UC Berkeley and a B.Sc. from the University of Sydney, with postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan. His work focuses on enabling computers to collaborate effectively with humans through NLP, including interactive systems, dialogue, and crowdsourcing. Education: PhD in Computer Science, UC Berkeley (advised by Dan Klein), 2016 B.Sc. in Computer Science, University of Sydney (advised by James Curran), 2010 Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Michigan (2016–2021) Research Interests: Interactive Executable Semantic Parsing NLP Data Science for Messy Real-World Data AI Collaboration in Games and Dialogue His recent work explores empathetic AI systems, alignment algorithms, and AI-resilient interfaces. Over 50 publications span venues like ACL, NAACL, and ICML. Grants & Advising: CHIRON (DARPA): AI for recognizing opponent narratives Google/Amazon grants for annotation tools and dialogue systems Advising PhD student Kent O'Sullivan His lab develops tools like SLATE and contributes to dialogue corpora. Labs/Teams: Leads the Sydney NLP Lab, focusing on human-AI collaboration and scalable NLP systems.

• Spatial Linguistics
• Cognitive Semantics
• French and English Language Studies
• +3 more

Mark Tutton is a Senior Lecturer in French and Francophone Studies at the School of International Studies and Education, University of Technology Sydney. With dual Australian and French citizenship, he coordinates the French language and culture program and has extensive experience in linguistics education across Australia and France since 2004. PhD in Linguistics (University of New South Wales, 2010) Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning (University of Southern Queensland, 2018) MA in Linguistics (University of Lille, 2005) MèsL (BA equivalent) in Linguistics (Sorbonne Nouvelle, 2004) BA in Communication and International Studies (UTS, 2001) His research focuses on spatial language and multimodal communication, particularly comparing English and French locative expressions through gestural and cognitive frameworks. Recent work explores foreign language anxiety in online learning environments and the impact of AI on language pedagogy. Articles span topics in spatial semantics, English-French contrastive linguistics, and technology-enhanced language learning. Key themes include metaphorical resource conceptualization, prospective location in motion verbs, and static/motion-framed locative expressions. Mark teaches French language and culture at all levels (A1-C1 ECFR) while advocating for concrete, relatable explanations of abstract linguistic concepts to enhance student learning experiences.

Weifeng HanView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Inclusive Education
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Cognitive-Linguistic Development
• +7 more

Weifeng Han is a Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education Futures at Flinders University's College of Education, Psychology and Social Work. With dual PhDs in Linguistics and Speech Pathology , their research focuses on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) language development/disorders, interprofessional practice (IPP), and early language literacy policy in inclusive education contexts. PhD in Speech Pathology PhD in Linguistics MA in Applied Linguistics BA in English Research explores language development variations across cultural contexts, diagnostic/intervention strategies in multilingual settings, and evidence-based projects addressing social inclusion. Key themes include: Bilingual language development Developmental language disorders Assistive technology in education UN Sustainable Development Goals (Education) Recent publications analyze digital mental health interventions, dysgraphia interventions, and semantic acquisition in L2 learners. Awards include IELTS Research Grant (2020-2022) and Ember Venning Scholarships (2016-2017).

• Japanese Linguistics
• Language Acquisition
• Technology-Enhanced Language Teaching
• +1 more

Nobu Akagi is an Associate Lecturer at The University of Sydney, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. He holds a PhD in Cognitive Science from Macquarie University, specializing in language acquisition. His research focuses on Japanese linguistics, technology-enhanced language education, and positive psychology's role in language learning. Prior roles include Japanese language teaching at UNSW and Macquarie University. Education: PhD in Cognitive Science (Macquarie University) MA (Macquarie University) MAPPCC (East London University) Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching (Griffith University) BCogSci (University of Western Australia) Research Interests: Dr. Akagi’s work bridges formal linguistics and pedagogy. He investigates syntactic-semantic interfaces in Japanese, first/second language acquisition mechanisms, and innovative uses of technology in language classrooms. Recent projects explore how optimism influences language learning outcomes and the ethical implications of machine translation in language education. Recent Research Trends: His conference presentations highlight a dual focus on technology integration (machine translation’s impact on learners) and foundational linguistic inquiry (child language acquisition patterns). Work on Yakuwari-go in film translation showcases his interest in applied linguistics. Grants & Awards: No scientific awards listed. Teaching & Supervision: Teaches Japanese language courses at all levels. Supervises research in technology-enhanced language teaching, positive psychology applications, and syntactic-semantic interfaces. Labs/Teams: No dedicated lab mentioned, but collaborates with education technology initiatives within the Faculty.

Mark JohnsonView profile

Professor

• Natural Language Processing
• Computational Linguistics
• Machine Learning
• +5 more

Mark Johnson is a Professor at Macquarie University's School of Computing, affiliated with the Centre for Language Sciences (CLaS). His research focuses on computational linguistics, natural language processing, and machine learning, with contributions to parsing algorithms, child language acquisition models, and generative AI systems. He leads projects on generative models of life stories, logistics optimization algorithms, and visual dialogue systems using deep neural networks. Research interests include natural language understanding, data augmentation techniques, and model robustness. Notable projects involve developing frameworks for synthetic training data, OOD detection, and integrating named entity recognition with context tags. His work emphasizes practical applications in dialog systems, document analysis, and language model optimization. Collaborations span cross-linguistic studies and AI-driven visualization systems. Key achievements include over 200 research outputs, including influential articles on child language acquisition models and OOD detection. He oversees projects funded by MQRC and industry partnerships, focusing on advancing NLP and AI methodologies. His lab, CLaS, fosters interdisciplinary research in language sciences and computational methods.

Connor BrownView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Semantics
• Pragmatics
• Language Contact
• +4 more

Connor Brown is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Social Sciences, Linguistics Department, The University of Western Australia. He holds a PhD in Linguistics from the same institution (Awarded: 26 Jul 2024). His research focuses on semantics, pragmatics, and language contact, particularly in Australian contact languages like Kriol and Miriwoong. He actively engages with Indigenous communities in the East Kimberley region, contributing to language revitalization efforts through orthography development and educational materials. Research Interests: Semantics/pragmatics interfaces, contact-induced grammatical change, sociolinguistics of contact languages, and language activism for minoritised varieties. Notable projects include work on Kriol temporal morphology and Miriwoong revitalization with the Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Centre. Scientific Contributions: Recent publications analyze Kriol’s verbal plurality markers, onomatopoeic patterns, and syntactic-discourse interactions. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with applied language documentation. Awards: Received the UWA Grand Challenges grant (2022) for culturally inclusive projects addressing diversity and education. Community Engagement: Co-developed Kriol orthography standards (2023) and produced Miriwoong revitalization materials (2024). Collaborates with Frog Hollow Community and ANU linguists on endangered language preservation.

James BednallView profile

Lecturer

• Australian Aboriginal languages
• language documentation and description
• language revitalisation and maintenance
• +8 more

Dr. James Bednall is an Honorary Lecturer at the Australian National University (ANU) and a Lecturer in Linguistics at Charles Darwin University. His research focuses on morphosyntax, semantics, and pragmatics, with a specialization in Australian Aboriginal languages, particularly Anindilyakwa and Badimaya. He actively collaborates with Indigenous communities in Mid-West Western Australia and east Arnhem Land on language documentation, revitalization, and maintenance projects. Bednall holds a PhD from ANU and Université de Paris (2020), where his thesis examined temporal, aspectual, and modal expression in Anindilyakwa. His work bridges theoretical linguistics and applied language documentation, emphasizing community-led approaches. He has published extensively on tense-aspect-modality systems, lexicography, and emotion metaphors in Indigenous languages. His research interests include semantic typology, narrative structure, and the intersection of grammar and culture. He serves as Secretary of the Australian Linguistic Society and has produced resources such as dictionaries and wordlists for endangered languages. Bednall’s contributions span both academic scholarship and practical tools for language preservation.

Anh LeView profile

Lecturer

• Theoretical Linguistics
• Syntax-semantics interface
• Tense-Aspect-Mood systems
• +15 more

Anh Le is an Associate Lecturer (Teaching Specialist) in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University and an Associate Member of the Caring Futures Institute. He is based at the Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide, South Australia. His academic work bridges theoretical linguistics and clinical speech pathology, with a strong focus on bilingual and multilingual language assessment and therapy. PhD in Linguistics, University of Adelaide (Awarded: 12 Oct 2022) BA in Linguistics and German Studies, University of Adelaide (Awarded: 31 Dec 2018) Dr. Le's research centers on the syntax-semantics interface and theoretical frameworks such as Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), Role and Reference Grammar (RRG), and Relational Circumstantial Grammar (RCG). He specializes in Mainland Southeast Asian languages, particularly Vietnamese, and investigates tense-aspect-mood systems and grammaticalization. His applied research explores how linguistic theory can enhance clinical tools, including the use of Spontaneous Elicited Narrative for diagnosing language disorders in bilingual adults and phonological awareness techniques in voice therapy for diverse populations. His recent scholarly contributions include a 2024 open-access review article analyzing the historical evolution of tense marking in Vietnamese since the 17th century, reflecting his deep engagement with both diachronic linguistics and historiographical methods. The work demonstrates interdisciplinary reach, connecting linguistic theory, historical change, and sociopolitical influences such as French colonization. Scientific Awards and Honors: University of Adelaide Research Scholarships (UARS) - International Students (2019–2022) Beneficiary of Research Grant by The Walter and Dorothy Duncan Trust (Nov 2019) Adelaide Graduate Award, University of Adelaide (Nov 2018) Dr. Le actively contributes to teaching and academic supervision, serving as Topic Coordinator for SPTH9121 (Professional Studies and Communication Sciences) and as lecturer in several speech pathology courses including Honours Thesis B, Clinical Skills and Practice, and Speech Pathology Skills and Practice. He is involved in professional communities such as the Australian Linguistic Society and the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre. While no formal lab is mentioned, his affiliation with the Caring Futures Institute suggests collaboration in health-focused interdisciplinary research. He has not indicated ongoing grants beyond those awarded during his PhD, but his research trajectory points to continued work in linguistic theory and clinical application.

Ivan YuenView profile

Research Fellow

• Linguistics
• Child Language Acquisition
• Speech Acoustics
• +3 more

Ivan Yuen is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Linguistics at Macquarie University, affiliated with the Centre for Language Sciences (CLaS). His research focuses on child language acquisition, speech acoustics, and prosody, particularly in Mandarin and other tonal languages. He has contributed to studies on cochlear implants' impact on language processing and the development of contrastive focus in children. Key research areas include speech production in children with hearing impairments, syntactic and prosodic processing in Mandarin, and the role of acoustic cues in language comprehension. Yuen has collaborated on projects funded by MQSIS, including research on articulography for speech analysis and phonetics laboratory facilities. His recent work examines how variability in vowel and tone systems affects language development, challenges faced by Mandarin-speaking cochlear implant users, and the ability of young children to distinguish prosodic patterns in compound nouns.

• Languages of Greater Mainland Southeast Asia
• Trans-Himalayan/Tibeto-Burman languages
• Austroasiatic languages
• +7 more

Mark W. Post is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Linguistics within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney, where he also serves as Deputy Head of School (Humanities) and Honours Coordinator. He is a member of the China Studies Centre, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, and The Vere Gordon Childe Centre. Dr. Post's research focuses on the typologies and relationships among Greater Mainland Southeast Asian and Himalayan languages, with special emphasis on the Tani branch of Trans-Himalayan (Tibeto-Burman) languages. His fieldwork-based research encompasses languages of Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, India, particularly Galo and other Tani languages. His theoretical approach combines functional-diachronic perspectives with anthropological linguistics, viewing language as a dynamic process whose structures emerge from patterns of discourse and interaction. His recent publications reveal significant trends in Eastern Himalayan linguistics, with particular focus on classifier systems, topographical deixis, applicative constructions, and ethnolinguistic prehistory. His work demonstrates the exceptional linguistic diversity of the Eastern Himalayan region and its importance for understanding broader patterns in language evolution and cultural adaptation. 2011 Recipient of the Association for Linguistic Typology's Pāṇini Award Dr. Post supervises research on phonological and grammatical descriptions of Asian minority languages, particularly of Southeast Asia and the Himalayas, and on functional and diachronic analyses of grammatical phenomena. His current projects include 'Grammar and prehistory in the Eastern Himalaya' and 'A grammar and online/app-based dictionary of the Galo language.' He has received multiple research grants, including ARC Discovery Projects and funding from the Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research. His laboratory work centers on the Centre for Cultural-Linguistic Diversity (Eastern Himalaya), where he coordinates documentation efforts for endangered languages of the region, working closely with local language communities like the Galo Language Development Committee of Arunachal Pradesh.

Rob PensalfiniView profile

Associate Professor

• Theoretical Linguistics
• Indigenous Australian Languages (Jingulu/Mudburra)
• Shakespeare Performance Studies
• +3 more

Associate Professor Rob Pensalfini holds dual appointments in the School of Communication and Arts and School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Queensland. He is an Affiliate of the Centre for Critical and Creative Writing. His academic career began with a PhD in Theoretical Linguistics from MIT (1997), followed by Visiting Assistant Professorship at the University of Chicago before joining UQ in 1999. Promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2003 and Associate Professor in 2016, his work bridges linguistics and drama, particularly focusing on Indigenous Australian languages (Jingulu/Mudburra) and innovative prison-based Shakespeare performances. Education: PhD in Theoretical Linguistics, MIT, 1997 Fieldwork-based research in Northern Territory's Barkly Tableland Research interests: Documentation of endangered Indigenous languages Language contact phenomena between Jingulu/Mudburra Shakespearean performance in correctional facilities Phonological typology and morphosyntactic theory Interdisciplinary links between linguistics and theatre Leadership roles: Founder of Australia's longest-running Prison Shakespeare program Artistic Director of Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble Co-lead on biocultural knowledge projects with Indigenous communities Labs/Initiatives: Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble Prison Shakespeare Project (since 2008) Collaborations with Batchelor Institute on Indigenous language preservation

Avery AndrewsView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Syntactic Theory
• Syntax-Semantics Interface
• Natural Semantic Metalanguage
• +3 more

Dr. Avery Andrews is a retired Senior Lecturer in the Linguistics Program at the School of Literature, Languages & Linguistics, The Australian National University (ANU). He remains actively engaged in research, focusing on syntactic theory, syntax-semantics interfaces, and the integration of Natural Semantic Metalanguage with formal frameworks like Lexical-Functional Grammar (LFG) and Chomsky's Minimalist Program. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with computational applications, particularly in analyzing languages like Icelandic and Indonesian. Research interests include quirky case structures, information spreading in LFG, and reconciling NSM with formal semantics. He contributed to projects such as 'Understanding Indonesian: Developing a Machine-Usable Grammar, Dictionary, and Corpus' (2008–2012), advancing computational linguistics. His publications span syntactic theory, case analysis, and morphosyntactic phenomena, emphasizing cross-linguistic comparison and theoretical coherence. Key Projects: 'Understanding Indonesian' (2008–2012) Labs/Teams: Collaborations within ANU's Linguistics Program and international LFG research networks.