Research Interests

Language variation lies at the forefront my research, from non-standard usage to formal and semantic differences in expression to playful creativity. I approach variation from the intersection of sociolinguistics, usage-based linguistics, and psycholinguistics, employing a variety of corpus-based and experimental methods to examine how we utilize and understand variation. I am involved in several research projects:

 

Current Research Projects

Token-Based Vector Semantics

I was involved in the Nephological Semantics Project at KU Leuven, researching how token-based semantic vector space models can be used in the study of onomasiological (synonymy) and semasiological (polysemy) variation. I explored how distributional semantic models can be enhanced by incorporating lectometric variables (e.g. sociolingistic, stylistic), to further differentiate semantic variants along these dimensions.

 

Idiomatic Variation

My dissertation research explores idiomatic variation using a multi-methodological approach. I investigate the type of variation and creativity produced with idioms in an elicitation task, how people rate idiomatic variation in an acceptability ratings task, as well as how people process and understand different types of variation through an eye-tracking study.

 

Corpus-Based Analyses of Canadian English

I am involved in several projects investigating different aspects of Canadian English, from the use of visual perception verbs such as see, look, and watch with Dr. John Newman, to the be done X construction (e.g. I'm done my homework) with Jennifer Hinnell.

 

Past Research Projects

Corpus Creation Projects for Canadian English

I was involved in two corpus creation projects for Canadian English:

 

Preterite Shift

For my Master's research, I focused on nonstandard variation in the English strong verb paradigm, specifically the use of the past tense as a past participle, such as have went instead of have gone. I investigated this phenomenon in numerous corpora and ran production experiments eliciting the past participle form from native speakers of English. I continued this research for one of my Generals Papers in my PhD program, where I analyzed the comprehension of nonstandard usage through an eye-tracking experiment, and then further explored the influence of phonological neighbours in analogical levelling with Aki-Juhani Kyröläinen.

 

Language Documentation

I investigated the use of narrative markers and tone in connected speech in a Dinka (i.e. Nilo-Saharan language) narrative for my Honour's Thesis.

I also developed a Dinka Narrative Website with the assistance of the Text Analysis Portal for Research (TAPoR) at the U of A.