​Austronesian (and Austro-Tai) Historical Linguistics

I am interested in the comparative study of Austronesian languages. I have published papers dealing with subgrouping and diachronic phonology at all levels, from higher-order subgrouping to the evolution of specific modern Austronesian languages. More recently, I have become increasingly interested in extending my reach to include the Kra-Dai languages, which likely form a larger genetic unit with Austronesian, dubbed Austro-Tai. This area of study is especially interesting, since Kra-Dai and Austronesian have nearly opposite canonical typologies. I am interested in studying the forces that cause such dramatic and opposite outcomes in language change.

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Diachronic and Metrical Phonology

I am fascinated by the history of phonological change, and how languages get to be the way they are. I am particularly interested in the link between stress type and syllable structure, with a focus on word-final stress in Austronesian and drift towards complex syllables and monosyllabic or sesquisyllabic word-shapes. In my view, historical change can be elegantly captured by incorporating phonological theor into diachronic analysis.

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Fieldwork and Documentation

I maintain an active fieldwork schedule in Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific. I employ documentation methods in my fieldwork, and use primary data in virtually all aspects of my research. Language documentation is critically important not only for the field of linguistics, but as a tool to preserve languages and culture which are being lost at an increasing rate.

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