Projects
Multilingual Acquisition of Upper and Lower Sorbian
The goal of this project is to investigate how multilinguals acquire acoustic and articulatory representations of their nondominant language. Recent research has shown that linguistic representation is distributed in the motor cortex, where it serves as acquired speech motor plans, and in the auditory cortex, where it serves as acquired acoustic-perceptual categories. In order to properly acquire a language, learners must develop a set of acoustic and articulatory representation. Acoustic and articulatory representations play a large role in speech comprehension and speech production, as well as phonological knowledge specific to the acquired languages. Research into multilingual acquisition has indicated that both early and late bilingual learners can form novel acoustic and articualtory categories in their internalized language structure. However, multilinguals have been shown to acquire representations that do not mirror the target language or the learner's L1 and it is still unclear how their representations develop. My project examines the multilingual acquisition of German and Upper and Lower Sorbian at different stages of fluency to assess how acoustic and articulatory representation develops. To do this, I am examining speech production using acoustic and ultrasound techniques. The aim of each of my studies is to investigate multilinguals at various stages of language acquisition to determine how similar sounds in each language emerge with distinct acoustic and articulatory representations.
The goal of this project is to investigate how multilinguals acquire acoustic and articulatory representations of their nondominant language. Recent research has shown that linguistic representation is distributed in the motor cortex, where it serves as acquired speech motor plans, and in the auditory cortex, where it serves as acquired acoustic-perceptual categories. In order to properly acquire a language, learners must develop a set of acoustic and articulatory representation. Acoustic and articulatory representations play a large role in speech comprehension and speech production, as well as phonological knowledge specific to the acquired languages. Research into multilingual acquisition has indicated that both early and late bilingual learners can form novel acoustic and articualtory categories in their internalized language structure. However, multilinguals have been shown to acquire representations that do not mirror the target language or the learner's L1 and it is still unclear how their representations develop. My project examines the multilingual acquisition of German and Upper and Lower Sorbian at different stages of fluency to assess how acoustic and articulatory representation develops. To do this, I am examining speech production using acoustic and ultrasound techniques. The aim of each of my studies is to investigate multilinguals at various stages of language acquisition to determine how similar sounds in each language emerge with distinct acoustic and articulatory representations.
Thomson Multitaper Power Spectral Density Estimate for the rounded uvular fricative. The blue line represents the average PSD and the black lines represent m1 and m2, respectively.
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Language Documentation and Revitalization with Sonya Bird (University of Victoria, Canada).
Our aim with this project is to examine acquisition trajectories for L2 learners of Hul’q’umi’num’. We are comparing spectral moments from fricatives and affricates for L2 learners at different stages of acquisition and comparing them to L1 speakers. Our goal is to understand acquisition trajectories and how internalized L2 structure develops with experience. We are also examining the complex and rare posterior fricative system (3-way velar/uvular fricative) in Hul’q’umi’num’. Our goal is to understand how this system is maintained through spectral cues. |
The phonetics and phonology of sibilant fricatives with Marzena Żygis (Zentrum für Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft, Germany) and Xuan Guan (University of Oregon, USA).
We are examining the acoustic characteristics of sibilants in the cross-linguistic context to determine how contrast is maintain between different places of articulation and how that factors in to the different phonological behaviours of sibilant fricatives across languages. Currently we are working on a cross-linguistic project sibilants in Hindi, English, Malayalam, and Mandarin.
We are also working on a the sibilant inventory of Queyu, a Sino-Tibetan language. Queyu has a rich sibilant inventory, boasting a three-way place contrast and aspirated variants of the vioceless series of fricatives.
We are examining the acoustic characteristics of sibilants in the cross-linguistic context to determine how contrast is maintain between different places of articulation and how that factors in to the different phonological behaviours of sibilant fricatives across languages. Currently we are working on a cross-linguistic project sibilants in Hindi, English, Malayalam, and Mandarin.
We are also working on a the sibilant inventory of Queyu, a Sino-Tibetan language. Queyu has a rich sibilant inventory, boasting a three-way place contrast and aspirated variants of the vioceless series of fricatives.
Maintaining nasal contrasts in Queyu with Xuan Guan (University of Oregon, USA).
Queyu maintains a rare contrast between voiced and voiceless nasal segments. We are looking at the acoustic and perceptual factors that contribute not only to their maintenance but to the typological rarity of this contrast.
Queyu maintains a rare contrast between voiced and voiceless nasal segments. We are looking at the acoustic and perceptual factors that contribute not only to their maintenance but to the typological rarity of this contrast.
