Justin Royer

Justin Royer is an Assistant Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Linguistics and Translation at Université de Montréal. His research focuses on theoretical linguistics, particularly the syntax, semantics, and prosody of Chuj (a Mayan language) and Quebec French. Previously, he held a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at UC Berkeley and earned a PhD in Linguistics from McGill University.

His theoretical work explores the intersection of syntax, semantics, and prosody in under-represented languages, with specific attention to Mayan languages. He investigates phenomena such as ergative anaphors, high-absolutive syntax, numeral classifiers, and definiteness markers. His fieldwork-based research documents Chuj and Mam languages, contributing to linguistic typology and documentation methodologies.

Justin's publications (2017–2025) reveal trends in Mayan language analysis, Quebec French syntax, and cross-linguistic comparisons. Key subfields include animacy hierarchies, directional constructions, and nominal domain modality. His collaborative projects with scholars like Amy Rose Deal and Luis Alonso-Ovalle highlight interdisciplinary approaches.

Scientific awards include a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. He has presented at major conferences (NELS, WCCFL, SALT) and delivered invited talks at institutions across North America. His funded projects (2025–2029) focus on documenting Mayan languages and analyzing argument structure. He is also involved in training students through workshops and seminars.

Justin leads fieldwork on Chuj territory in Guatemala, working with local communities to document dialectal variation. His lab, Yolnhajab', operates in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, and collaborates with institutions like Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and UC Berkeley. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications in language preservation.