Dorothy Ahn

Dorothy Ahn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Linguistics at Rutgers University and the Principal Investigator (P.I.) of the Meaning Across Languages lab. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from Harvard University (2019) and a BA in Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania (2012).

Her research focuses on cross-linguistic patterns in semantics and pragmatics, employing both formal theoretical and experimental approaches. Key areas include definiteness, demonstratives, anaphoric expressions in signed languages (e.g., ASL), plurality, logophoricity, and additive particles like either. She investigates how semantic building blocks compose to explain linguistic patterns within and across languages.

Recent work includes analyses of Mandarin bridging, Korean honorifics, and the role of pointing in demonstrative reference. Her lab, Meaning Across Languages, explores semantic universals and language-specific variations.

Dr. Ahn has advised/co-authored with students such as Ziling Zhu, Ariela Ye, and Vincent Czarnecki. She has presented at major conferences (WCCFL, SALT, SuB) and published in journals like Natural Language Semantics and Linguistics and Philosophy.

Her research also involves experimental stimuli design, with image collections used in studies on linguistic comprehension and pragmatics.