Research

I am a laboratory phonologist, using phonetically grounded approaches to investigate sound change and language contact. I also make use of formal theories, typological surveys and fieldwork, and I have a special interest in stress, tone, and the phonological word.

I have worked on various languages of Singapore (Singlish, Bazaar Malay, Baba Malay, Hokkien or southern Min Chinese, Mandarin Chinese), as well as the Atlantic creoles. But I retain great affection for Old and Middle English, which first got me interested in language change and contact.