Laura Catharine Smith

Laura Catharine Smith is a Professor in the Department of German and Russian at Brigham Young University, part of the College of Humanities. She is actively engaged in teaching and research, with her office located in 3109 JFSB, Provo, Utah. Her contact email is laurasmith@byu.edu, and she holds regular office hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00–2:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 10:00–10:50 a.m.

Education:

• BA (Hons), Queen’s University at Kingston, Language and Linguistics, 1994
• BEducation, Queen’s University at Kingston, French and History/Social Sciences, 1995
• MA, University of Calgary, Historical Linguistics, 1997
• MA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Linguistics, 2000
• Joint PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Germanic Linguistics and Theoretical Linguistics, 2004

Her research spans theoretical and historical phonology, with a focus on prosodic templates and their role in shaping Germanic languages. She investigates second language perception and pronunciation, particularly how dialect influences L2 acquisition, and explores grammatical, phonetic, and lexical development during study abroad experiences. Her work also examines the interfaces between phonology, morphology, syntax, and phonetics.

While no full list of recent publications is provided in the text, her scholarly engagement is evident through presentations and collaborations. She has contributed to research in Germanic linguistics and second language acquisition, often in collaboration with other scholars such as Cherice Michelle Montgomery, Michael C. Putnam, and Adam Ussishkin.

Scientific Awards:

• Best German Paper at UFLA (Utah Foreign Language Association), 2011

Laura Catharine Smith is actively involved in professional service, including serving as a Board Member of the Society for Germanic Linguistics since 2013 and as an ad hoc reviewer for several prestigious journals such as the Journal of Germanic Linguistics, Language Learning, and Second Language Research Forum. She has taught a range of courses including German 215 (Linguistics Research and Writing), German 344 (Phonetics and Pronunciation), German 450 (History of the German Language), and German 460 (Structure of Modern German).

She is a member of the Linguistics Society of America (since 2003) and the Society for Germanic Linguistics (since 1998), reflecting her sustained commitment to the field. Though no formal list of advisees is given, her collaborative work with colleagues and students suggests strong mentorship and academic leadership.