Mingxing Li (李明興)

Associate Professor of Linguistics

Academy of Language and Culture

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Hong Kong Baptist University

Director, HKBU Phonology Laboratory

Email: mingxingli [AT] hkbu.edu.hk

Phone: (+852) 3411 5135

Web: http://eng.hkbu.edu.hk/li-mingxing/

ResearchGate GoogleScholar ORCID

CV (as of Nov 2024)

Education

Ph.D. in Linguistics (2017), The University of Kansas

Dissertation: Sibilant contrast: Perception, production, and sound change

M.Phil. in Linguistics (2012), The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Thesis: A perceptual study of Mandarin apical vowels and sibilants

M.A. in English Language and Literature (2004), Tianjin Normal University

Thesis: Neutral tones in disyllabic sequences across Chinese dialects: An OT account

B.A. in English Education (2001), Tianjin Normal University

Academic Positions

Associate Professor, 2023/07 – Department of English Language and Literature, Hong Kong Baptist University
Assistant Professor, 2017/10 – 2023/06 Department of English Language and Literature, Hong Kong Baptist University
Graduate Teaching Assistant, 2013/08 – 2017/05 Department of Linguistics, The University of Kansas
Research Assistant, 2011/10 – 2012/04, Department of English Language and Literature, Hong Kong Baptist University
Research Assistant, 2009/08 – 2011/01, Human-Computer Communications Lab, Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Teaching Assistant, 2007/08 – 2008/12, Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Teaching Assistant / Lecturer, 2004/08 – 2007/05, College of Foreign Languages, Tianjin Normal University
Research Assistant, 2004/08 – 2006/05, College of Foreign Languages, Tianjin Normal University

Research Interests

Phonology & phonetics
Speech perception
Second language phonology
Language typology
Sound change
Chinese linguistics

Publications

Monograph

Wee, Lian-Hee, & Mingxing Li. (2023). Complexity in the phonology of tone. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009086707 (Published online 21 October 2023)

Articles

Liu, Pauline Bolin, & Mingxing Li. (2024). The typology of the [n-l] contrasts across Chinese dialects in different tonal contexts. Chinese Journal of Phonetics, 22, 137-149.
Liu, Pauline Bolin, & Mingxing Li. (2024). The perceptual distinctiveness of the [n-l] contrast in different vowel and tonal contexts. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA), Express Letters 4 (11), 115202. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0034196 (Published online 1 Nov 2024)
Li, Mingxing, & Jie Zhang. (2023). The interplay between psychoacoustic perception and L1-specific perception in evaluating the distinctiveness of sound pairs. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (JASA), Express Letters 3 (4), 045201. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0017771 (Published online 3 April 2023)
Li, Mingxing. (2023). The typology of nasal onsets across Chinese dialects. Chinese Journal of Phonetics, 19(3), 88-103.
Kong, Huifang, Shengyi Wu, Mingxing Li, & Xiangrong Shen. (2023). The articulatory properties of apical vowels in Hefei Mandarin. Journal of the International Phonetic Association. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025100323000178 (Published online 23 June 2023)
Tam, Shirley Wing Ki, Ann Wai Huen To, Mingxing Li, & Yoyo Pui Yiu Tsang. (2023). Perceived attractiveness of brand names and the use of consonants. Experimental Linguistics, 12(4), 40-46.
Ng, Stephanie I Maan, Mingxing Li, & Yoyo Pui Yiu Tsang. (2023). The influence of phonotactics on Cantonese-English bilinguals’ perception of sound sequences. Chinese Journal of Phonetics, 19(3), 200-208.
Tsang, Yoyo Pui Yiu, Jialin Zhang, & Mingxing Li. (2023). The use of tone and tonal combination in naming. Experimental Linguistics, 12(2), 49–54.
Qi, Haifeng, & Mingxing Li. (2023). Gender difference in the acoustic properties of consonants: A case study of fricatives in Rongcheng dialect. Nankai Linguistics, 2, 50–61.
Li, Mingxing, Kun Li, Lifa Sun, Wai-Kim Leung, Minglin Wu, Ka-Ho Wong, Ann Wai Huen To, Yoyo Pui Yiu Tsang, & Helen Meng. (accepted). The consonants and vowels in Hong Kong English: A study based on the CU-CHLOE Corpus. Journal of the Phonetic Society of Japan.
Zhang, Jialin, & Mingxing Li. (2022). The typology of voiceless fricatives across Chinese dialects. Chinese Journal of Phonetics, 18 (2), 146-157.
Li, Mingxing. (2022). Vowel context, place difference, and the perceptual distinctiveness of sibilants. Chinese Journal of Phonetics, 17(1), 96-105.
Liao, Chunhong, Mingxing Li, Pengfei Liu, Kun Li, & Helen Meng. (2022). Segment substitution and its variation in Philippine English: general speakers vs. English teachers. Experimental Linguistics, 11(3), 89–96.
Kong, Huifang, Shengyi Wu, & Mingxing Li. (2022). Hefei Mandarin. Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 53(3), 1145 - 1166. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025100322000081 (Published online 15 July 2022)
Li, Mingxing. (2022). The interaction of formant transition and release burst cues in perceiving the place of coda stops in different vowel contexts. Experimental Linguistics, 11(1), 37–43.
Li, Mingxing. (2021). The typology of sibilant place contrasts in the high-front vowel context across Chinese dialects. Journal of East Asian Linguistics, 30 (4), 387–438. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10831-021-09232-0 (Published online 10 December 2021)
Li, Mingxing. (2020). Implicational relation and perceptual distinction: A case study on place contrasts of fricatives vs. affricates. Chinese Journal of Phonetics, 13, 105–113.
Kong, Huifang, Shengyi Wu, & Mingxing Li. (2019). The frication property of apical vowels in Hefei Chinese and a perceptual enhancement account. Studies in Language and Linguistics, 39(1), 23–33.
Qi, Haifeng, & Mingxing Li. (2018). A research on the variation of glide /u/ in Hekouhu with ancient Xie Zhi Shan Zhen She in Donggang dialect. Kaihen, 36, 103–109. Tokyo: Kobun Shuppansha.
Li, Mingxing, & Jie Zhang. (2017). Perceptual distinctiveness between dental and palatal sibilants in different vowel contexts and its implications for phonological contrasts. Laboratory Phonology: Journal of the Association for Laboratory Phonology, 8(1), 18, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.5334/labphon.27 (Published online 18 July 2017).
Wee, Lian-Hee, & Mingxing Li. (2015). Modern Chinese phonology. In William S-Y Wang & Chaofen Sun (eds.), Oxford handbook of Chinese linguistics, pp. 474–489. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Wee, Lian-Hee, & Mingxing Li. (2014). Review on Modern Linguistics by Baoya Chen. Symposium in Linguistics Vol 49, 274–279. Beijing: Commercial Press.
Li, Mingxing. (2012) The phonetics of neutral tone in Loudi Chinese. In Jilun Lu & Jialing Wang (eds.) An Optimality analysis of neutral tone in Chinese dialects. Tianjin University Press.
Li, Aijun, Jialing Wang, Mingxing Li, & Wenxin Li. (2006). Research on modern phonetics and phonology: a review. In the Institute of Linguistics of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (ed.) Annual review of Chinese linguistics 1999-2003, pp.78–100. Beijing: Commercial Press.
Li, Mingxing. (2004). Revisiting two sound changes in colloquial Mandarin: a feature geometry approach. In Jilun Lu & Jialing Wang (eds.) Studies in modern phonetics and phonology. Tianjin Social Sciences Press.

Talks

Cheung, Winky Wing Kei, Pauline Bolin Liu, & Mingxing Li (2025). Cantonese-English bilinguals’ production of /n/ and /l/ in their two languages. The 28th International Conference on Yue Dialects, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, China, October 27–28, 2025.
Li, Mingxing & Pauline Bolin Liu (2025). The phonetic properties of sibilant place contrasts in three Chinese dialects. 2025 National Conference on Man-Machine Speech Communication (NCMMSC 2025), Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China, October 16–19, 2025.
Liu, Pauline Bolin & Mingxing Li (2025). The phonetics of tonal contrast in apical vowel: A case study of Meihua dialect. 2025 National Conference on Man-Machine Speech Communication (NCMMSC 2025), Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China, October 16–19, 2025.
Li, Mingxing. (2025) Consonant contrasts and vowel contexts: Typology, perception, sound change. Séminaire de Recherche en Phonétique et Phonologie (SRPP). Laboratoire de Phonétique et Phonologie, Sorbonne Nouvelle University, France. Oct. 3, 2025.
Liu, Pauline Bolin & Mingxing Li (2025). Phonotactics and lexical effect in evaluating perceptual distinctiveness. Phonetics 2025 Hong Kong. Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR. Sept. 17–19, 2025.
Liu, Pauline Bolin & Mingxing Li (2025) The influence of L1 phonotactics on the evaluation of perceptual distinctiveness of sound pairs. Presented on The First International Conference on Experimental Linguistics. Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. June 6-8, 2025.
Li, Mingxing. (2025) The influence of phonotactics on Cantonese-English bilinguals’ perception of sounds. Division of Languages and Communication, College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 28 April, 2025
Li, Mingxing. (2025). Evaluating contrast distinctiveness and its role in sound system. HKU Linguistics Seminar. Department of Linguistics, The University of Hong Kong. 10 April, 2025.
Li, Mingxing. (2024). Phonological analyses of Mandarin apical vowels. 2024 International Forum on Phonology in Memory of the 90th Anniversary of Wang Jialing. Tianjin Normal University, Nov 23—24, 2024.
Liu, Pauline Bolin & Mingxing Li (2024). The influence of tones on the typology and perception of consonantal contrasts. The 15th International Conference in Evolutionary Linguistics (CIEL-15). Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan. July 13-14, 2024.
Liu, Pauline Bolin & Mingxing Li (2024). Phonological typology and perceptual distinctiveness of the [n-l] contrast in different vowel and tonal contexts. The 19th Conference on Laboratory Phonology (LabPhon 19). Hanyang University, Seoul, June 27-29, 2024.
To, Wai Huen Ann & Mingxing Li (2024). The influence of L1 segment-tone combinations on the identification of sounds. The 19th Conference on Laboratory Phonology (LabPhon 19). Hanyang University, Seoul, June 27-29, 2024.
Li, Mingxing. (2024). The perceptual distinctiveness of contrasts and the interplay of psychoacoustic perception and L1-specific perception. LML Research Seminar 2024. Department of Linguistics and Modern Language Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong. Mon 26 Feb, 2024.
To, Wai Huen Ann & Mingxing Li. (2023). The influence of tone on the identification of Cantonese onset stops. Annual Research Forum of The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (ARF-2023), City University of Hong Kong, Dec 2, 2023.
Liu, Pauline Bolin & Mingxing Li. (2023). Perceptual distinctiveness of [n-l] contrasts in different vowel and tonal contexts. Annual Research Forum of The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (ARF-2023), City University of Hong Kong, Dec 2, 2023.
Li, Mingxing, Pauline Bolin Liu, & Jialin Zhang. (2023). Contextually limited contrasts of onset consonants across Chinese dialects. The 15th Phonetics Conference of China (PCC2023), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China, July 7–10, 2023.
Liu, Pauline Bolin , & Mingxing Li. (2023). The typology of [n] vs. [l] contrasts in different vowel and tonal contexts. The 29th Annual Conference of the International Association of Chinese Linguistics (IACL-29). Macau University of Science and Technology, May 27–29, 2023.
Liu, Pauline Bolin, & Mingxing Li. (2022). The typology of [n] vs. [l] contrasts across Chinese dialects. Annual Research Forum of The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (ARF-2022), Hong Kong Baptist University, Dec 3, 2022.
Han, Zhuozhuo Fay, & Mingxing Li. (2022). The use of lia 倆 and sa 仨 as ‘numeral + classifier’ in Mandarin. Annual Research Forum of The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (ARF-2022), Hong Kong Baptist University, Dec 3, 2022.
Li, Mingxing. (2022). Perceptual and articulatory factors underlying the typology of sibilant place contrast. The 8th International Conference on Phonology and Morphology. The Phonology-Morphology Circle of Korea, June 11, 2022.
Li, Mingxing. (2021). The effects of L1 phonotactics on Cantonese-English bilinguals’ identification of L2 sounds. The 25th International Conference on Yue Dialects. Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance for Chinese and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Dec 18–19, 2021.
Tsang, Yoyo Pui Yiu, Jialin Zhang, & Mingxing Li. (2021). The use of tone and tonal combination in brand names. Annual Research Forum of The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (ARF-2021), City University of Hong Kong, Dec 4, 2021.
Meng, Helen, Mingxing Li, Kun Li, Lifa Sun, Wai-Kim Leung, Minglin Wu, Ka-Ho Wong, Ann Wai Huen To, & Yoyo Pui Yiu Tsang. (2021). Phonetics and phonology of Hong Kong English. Symposium of Phonetics and Phonology of Less Familiar Accents of English, The 35th General Meeting of the Phonetic Society of Japan. The Phonetic Society of Japan. Sept. 25-26, 2021.
Li, Mingxing. (2019). The variability in sound pattern: from individual differences to sound change. The First Heterotopic Junction Graduate Conference in Language, Literature and Culture (HJC-1). Hong Kong Baptist University, April 13, 2019.
Tam, Shirley Wing Ki, & Mingxing Li. (2018). Attractiveness of sounds in brand names: a perceptual study on Cantonese listeners. Annual Research Forum of The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (ARF-2018), City University of Hong Kong, Dec 1, 2018.
Li, Mingxing. (2018). Phonological typology and perceptual distinctiveness: place contrasts of fricatives and affricates. The 13th Phonetics Conference of China (PCC2018), Jinan University, Guangzhou, China, Nov 10–11, 2018.
Li, Mingxing. (2018). Apical vowel and sibilant contrast: language typology and perceptual distinctiveness. The 1st International Symposium on Frontiers of Chinese Linguistics (SFCL-1). The Education University of Hong Kong, Jun 8 –9, 2018.
Li, Mingxing. (2017). Sibilant place contrast: Perception, production, typology, and sound change. KU Linguistics Colloquy, Department of Linguistics, The University of Kansas, Feb 24, 2017.
Li, Mingxing, & Jie Zhang. (2017). The neutralization of dental and palatal sibilants: A sound change in progress in Xiangtan Chinese. The 91st Annual Meeting of the Linguistic Society of America, Austin, Jan 5–8, 2017.
Li, Mingxing, & Annie Tremblay. (2015). L1 phonotactics also influence the identification of L2 vowels: Cantonese listeners’ perception of [i]-[ɪ] in English. The 20th Meeting of the Mid-Continental Phonetics & Phonology Conference (MidPhon20), Indiana University, Sept 11–13, 2015.
Li, Mingxing, & Jie Zhang. (2015). Contrast distinctiveness between dental and palatal sibilants: Typology survey and perceptual experiment. The 27th North American Conference on Chinese Linguistics (NACCL-27), UCLA, Apr 3–5, 2015.
Li, Mingxing. (2014). Perceptual distinctiveness of dental vs. palatal sibilants in different vowel contexts. The 168th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, Oct 27–31, 2014.
Li, Mingxing. (2014). Apical vowels in Chinese dialects: Place assimilation vs. contrast enhancement. The 19th Meeting of the Mid-Continental Phonetics & Phonology Conference (MidPhon19), University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA, Sept. 12–14, 2014.
Li, Mingxing. (2014). A contrast-driven account of apical vowels in Chinese dialects. Graduate Research Competition 2014. The University of Kansas, USA, Mar 5, 2014.
Li, Mingxing, Shuang Zhang, Kun Li, Alissa Harrison, Wai-Kit Lo, & Helen Meng. (2011). Design and collection of an L2 English corpus with a suprasegmental focus for Chinese Learners of English. The 17th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, Hong Kong, Aug 17–21, 2011.
Li, Kun, Shuang Zhang, Mingxing Li, Wai-Kit Lo, & Helen Meng. (2011). Prominence model for prosodic features in automatic lexical stress and pitch accent detection. Proceedings of Interspeech, Florence, Italy, Aug 28–31, 2011.
Li, Kun, Shuang Zhang, Mingxing Li, Wai-Kit Lo, & Helen Meng. (2010). Detection of intonation in L2 English speech of native Mandarin learners. The 7th International Symposium on Chinese Spoken Language Processing (ISCSLP), Tainan, Taiwan, Nov 29–Dec 3, 2010.
Li, Mingxing. (2009). Minimal faithfulness to lexical tone: Cases from Chinese tonal neutralization. GLOW'32 Phonology Workshop. Université de Nantes, Nantes, France, Apr 15–18, 2009.
Li, Mingxing. (2009). Interaction of preferences for distinct contrast: Cases from Mandarin Chinese. GLOW in Asia VII Colloquium. The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, India, Feb 25–28, 2009.
Li, Mingxing. (2008). Cantonese [i] ~ [ɪ] alternation: Licensing by cue and contrast shift. Annual Research Forum 2008 of The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong. The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Dec 6–7, 2008.
Li, Mingxing. (2008). Neutral tone: Underlying tonelessness, tonal reduction and complete neutralization. The 16th Annual Conference of the International Association of Chinese Linguistics (IACL16). Peking University, China, May 30–June 2, 2008.

Funding

As Principal Investigator

Hong Kong University Grants Committee's General Research Fund (GRF) [12608324]. The Effects of Phonological Status on Phonetic Variation: The Acoustic and Articulatory Properties of Sibilants Across Chinese Dialects. HK$544,016 (US$69,000). Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2027.
Hong Kong University Grants Committee's Research Matching Grant Scheme (RMGS) [RMGS2019_1_18]. The Influence of L1 Phonotactics on the Recognition of L2 Sounds: Cantonese Listeners’ Perception of English Vowels. HK$10,000 (US$1,290). Jan. 1, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2021.
Hong Kong Baptist University Faculty Research Grant (FRG) Category II [FRG2/17-18/076]: Perceptual Basis of Language Typology: An Experimental Study of Syllable-final Consonants. HK$149,360 (US$19,000). Aug. 1, 2018 – Oct 31, 2020.
Hong Kong Baptist University Research Committee’s Start-up Grant for New Academics. HK$100,000 (US$12,700), Oct. 2017 –.

As Collaborative Investigator

Hong Kong Baptist University The Initiation Grant for Faculty Niche Research Areas [RC-FNRA-IG/23-24/ARTS/01]. The Effect of Age-Related Hearing Loss on Speech and Music Perception in Cantonese-Speaking Older Adults: Combined Evidence from Behavioral and EEG Experiments. (PI: Dr Jing Shao, Hong Kong Baptist University). HK$810,000 (US$102,900). Sept 1, 2024 – Aug 31, 2026.
Teaching Development Grants, Hong Kong Baptist University. Scientific Instruments in the Linguistics Laboratory: Training Students to Bring Technology into Linguistic Study. (PI: Dr Jing Shao, Hong Kong Baptist University). March. 2023 – August. 2024. HK$159,648.
The National Social Science Fund of China [18BYY215]. Chinese English Learners’ Accent Intelligibility Core and Its Visualization Applications. (PI: Dr. Hu Chen, Zhejiang Gongshang University). June 21, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2021. CNY¥200,000.
Anhui Philosophy and Social Science Grant. A Typological and Experimental Study of Apical Vowels in Jianghuai Mandarin. 2019. (PI: Prof. Huifang Kong, Anhui Jianzhu University). CNY¥20,000.

Teaching

Hong Kong Baptist University, Instructor

ENGL1005 English, Creativity, and Cultures
ENGL2016 Sounds of English Around the World
ENGL2026 Argumentation and Persuasion
ENGL2027 Academic and Professional Writing
ENGL3107 Acquiring and Learning a Language
ENGL4006 Advanced Topic in Language: Linguistic Typology and Language Change
ENGL4007 Advanced Topic in Linguistic Theory: Experimental Approach to Linguistic Evidence
ENGL4126 Exploring Linguistics Through Experimental Methods
ENGL4135 Linguistic Typology and Language Change
LANG7110 Research Methodology
LANG7401 Introduction to the Study of Language I
LANG7402 Introduction to the Study of Language II
LANG7580 Language Development

The University of Kansas, Graduate Teaching Assistant

LING/ANTH106 Introductory Linguistics
LING312 Introduction to Phonology

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Teaching Assistant

LIN2103 Exploring Grammar: Mandarin
LIN4013 Phonology II
LIN5604 Topics in Sociolinguistics

Awards & Honors

Faculty Performance Award in Early Career Teaching, Hong Kong Baptist University, 2019.
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, Dept. of Linguistics, The University of Kansas, 2016.
Frances Ingemann Scholarship in Linguistics, The University of Kansas, 2014–2015.
Linguistic Institute Fellowship, Linguistic Society of America, University of Michigan, 2013.
Kansas University Diversity Fellowship, The University of Kansas, 2012–2015.

Updated on 30 Nov, 2025

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