I'm a linguist with research interests in morphology & syntax, and a propensity for the sociocultural.
My research
Within morphosyntax and field linguistics, my research has explored the types of architectures that are implicated in various constructions across the clausal spine, from verbal structures to focus constructions. I'm particularly interested in the role of the syntactic component of grammar in generating structures & meanings, and how it interfaces with other systems that make part of what we call language. Most of my work within these sub-disciplines has been with Indigenous languages (particularly in the Americas & West Africa), recognizing their inherent value & the need for diversity in linguistics to understand human language(s).
My current research takes a holistic approach to the morphosyntax of Me'phaa, an Otomanguean language from Guerrero, Mexico, attending to the interrelatedness of verbal structures, semantics, & clausal structures. I consider how verbs in the language effectively image core geometries, providing a basis from which meanings and verb-initial structures are built, and an explanation for the language's complex manifestation of ergativity.
Beyond generative linguistics, I also investigate aspects of language use that tend to fall within the purview of sociocultural linguistics, in particular issues related to identity, ideologies, & discrimination. Most of my work with a sociocultural flair has been done using methods from the discourse-historical and sociocognitive approaches to Critical Discourse Studies, as well as social semiotics.