Brian Hsu

Brian Hsu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on formal syntax and phonology, particularly exploring sources of word-order variation, mental representation of optionality, and the syntax of functional projections. He employs both generative approaches and corpus-based methods in his work. Recent studies include analyses of Cherokee syntax, Mandarin classifiers, and Gradient Harmonic Grammar applications. Hsu has presented at major conferences such as the West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics and the North East Linguistic Society.

His research interests also encompass head movement, prosodification effects, and the interaction between syntax and prosody. Notable contributions include his 2021 work on Coalescence, unifying bundling operations in syntax, and his 2022 analysis of gradient symbolic representations in Harmonic Grammar.

His publications span journals like Language, Phonology, and Linguistic Inquiry, reflecting his expertise in syntactic theory, phonology, and language typology. Collaborations with scholars like Benjamin Frey and Caitlin Smith highlight interdisciplinary approaches to linguistic challenges.