A short summary of Robyn`s research:

As humans, we are constantly confronted with linguistic input, both written and spoken; often, these inputs require a response from us. My research focuses on the processing that is involved in language comprehension and production and the factors that influence this processing, such as age of acquisition (i.e., was the language in question acquired from birth or later in life?) and language proficiency. I use experimental methods such as eye-tracking, which can monitor an individual’s eye movements while they read text or listen to speech, to study language processing as it unfolds in real time. 

Research for Impact is one of the core strategic themes in SU`s Vision 2020. How does your research relate to that?

South Africa is the most multilingual country in the world in terms of legislation, yet we know little about the cognitive aspects of multilingualism in linguistically diverse settings of this type. One aim of my research is to address this gap and thereby help develop the Southern contribution to psycholinguistic knowledge. A specific focus of mine in this regard is the acquisition of isiXhosa as a second language, which I am currently investigating in an NRF Thuthuka project. African languages are increasingly being taught and studied as additional languages in schools, but there is very little research available on how the acquisition of these languages proceeds, which means that the teaching methods and materials used are not grounded in empirical research. My project aims to shed light on the isiXhosa acquisition process. The findings will be instructive in determining how best to teach isiXhosa and related languages; in the long term, I hope that the project will contribute to increasing the proportion of South Africans who are proficient in an African language, which the South African government has identified as essential for increasing social harmony and redressing past inequalities.

In the ever-changing environment of academia, what are some of the obstacles early career researchers are faced with?

It can initially be difficult to strike a balance between the various demands of an academic job: teaching, supervision, administration, research, and social impact. As in most other fields, imposter syndrome can also be an issue, especially early in one’s supervision career.

What would you regard as the most important aspects to consider to effectively support early career researchers?            

Establishing an institutional and/or departmental culture in which research is prioritized is extremely important. It is otherwise easy for early career researchers to put research on the backburner in order to attend to more pressing short-term tasks that won’t have significant long-term impact. Mentorship is key in this regard. Financial support for conducting research, attending conferences and so forth is also very useful, as it can take some time for early career researchers to build up enough experience to be able to access research funding on their own.

What excites you about your work?   

I enjoy the creativity and problem-solving that is involved in research. I love that I have a job in which I can constantly learn new things and develop my skills. I also enjoy working together with colleagues and students; I find research to be both more productive and more enjoyable when it involves collaboration.    

When you're not in the lab, library or in the field conducting research, what do you do to unwind?

I’m a keen long-distance runner, and I love to read.

What advice, if any, would you look to impart to future early career academics?

Find a mentor and/or friends with whom you can discuss what you’re doing. Advice from more experienced colleagues is really valuable, and it also helps to have friends in the same career stage as you to share your experiences with.

Connect with Robyn and her work!

Along with my colleague Prof Emanuel Bylund, I am a founding member of the African Psycholinguistics Association, which aims to highlight psycholinguistic research conducted by African scholars. Visit the website at www.apsa.africa.