Justin Royer

Justin Royer is an Assistant Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Linguistics and Translation at the Université de Montréal, Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He previously held a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at UC Berkeley and earned his PhD in Linguistics from McGill University in 2022 under the supervision of Jessica Coon, Luis Alonso-Ovalle, and Aron Hirsch.

Research Interests:

• Theoretical syntax, semantics, and prosody
• Mayan languages, especially Chuj (spoken in Guatemala and Mexico)
• Québec French, particularly negation and clause-typing
• Language documentation and fieldwork methodologies
• Linguistic typology and cross-linguistic comparison

His research bridges formal linguistic theory and empirical fieldwork, focusing on under-represented Indigenous languages. He investigates how syntactic structures interact with prosody and semantics, with a particular interest in phenomena such as anaphora, definiteness, classifiers, modality, and ergativity.

Recent Research Trends:

His most recent publications (2022–2025) reveal a strong focus on the interplay between syntax and semantics in Mayan languages, particularly Chuj and Mam. Key themes include animacy hierarchies, binding theory, ergative anaphors, modal indefinites, quantifier interpretation, and the syntax-prosody interface. He also continues to explore expletive negation and clause-typing in Québec French, contributing to the understanding of variation within Romance languages.

Scientific Awards:

• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship

Advising and Grants:

While specific advisees are not listed, Justin Royer has co-authored work with graduate students and collaborators such as Cristina Buenrostro, Rodrigo Ranero, and Noah Elkins, indicating active mentoring. His Banting Fellowship—a highly competitive award—demonstrates significant research funding and recognition. His ongoing collaborations and publication record suggest continued grant support and academic leadership.

Labs and Research Groups:

He is affiliated with research circles and workshops at major institutions, including the Syntax-Semantics Circle at UC Berkeley and the Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto-Hamilton Syntax Workshop. His invited talks at Stanford, UCLA, and the University of Washington reflect active engagement in the broader formal linguistics community.