Research
Research
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Standardization of Iñupiaq
in revitalization efforts
(2022 - active)
Standardization of Iñupiaq
in revitalization efforts
(2022 - active)
This work was presented at the International Conference on Language Documentation & Conservation 2025. More information can be found on my Resources page.
Iñupiaq is an Eskaleut macrolanguage spoken in Northwestern Alaska, consisting of Northern Alaskan Iñupiaq and Seward Peninsula Iñupiaq, along with the many dialect variations found within these languages. The macrolanguage is classified by Ethnologue using the EGID scale to be moribund (see above section). The Iñupiaq speaker population is around 3,000, but there are currently active revitalization efforts within the speaker communities encouraging younger generations to learn the language.
My research asked if Iñupiaq is a macrolanguage, which specifically is being used in revitalization efforts? Further, what are some of the motivations behind a standardization choice in Iñupiaq, as well as the possible effects from this choice?
Through an extensive review of the Iñupiaq resources offered to learners, it appears that Northern Alaskan Iñupiaq is significantly more often accessed and taught to Iñupiaq learners than Seward Peninsula Iñupiaq. Comparative analysis shows there are multiple successful language programs for Northern Alaskan Iñupiaq, where Seward Peninsula Iñupiaq has no current courses offered or established. Even areas within the Seward Peninsula Iñupiaq speaking community have programs whose resources are Northern Alaskan Iñupiaq. While there are not active proponents within the community who endorse a standardization of Iñupiaq for revitalization purposes, it seems that a passive standardization may be occurring due to the prevalence and access of one language, Northern Alaskan Iñupiaq, over the other, Seward Peninsula Iñupiaq.
A comprehensive online resource of Northern Alaskan Iñupiaq
Active additional lines of inquiry include:
- intersection of language revitalization and curriculum construction
- the role of typology in language planning
- language attitudes and ideologies of speakers across NAI and SPI
- linguistic and ideological comparison of Northern Alaskan Iñupiaq and Seward Peninsula Iñupiaq
- morphological and syntactic ergativity comparison across Eskaleut languages
Phonetic production and perception of
Foreign-directed Speech
(2020 - active)
Phonetic production and perception of
Foreign-directed Speech
(2020 - active)
To read my full work, click here.
Foreign-directed speech (FDS) is a type of listener-directed speech style specifically used by native speakers of a language speaking with non-native speakers. If there is a perceived listener demand (i.e. issues with comprehension), speakers can utilize FDS to assist listeners. While there has been plenty of work on other listener-directed speech styles such as infant-directed speech or clear speech, there is a current gap of knowledge surrounding FDS. My work aims to increase understanding of the phonetic modifications speakers make toward non-native speakers of their language, with potential extension to ESOL classroom environments.
Completed work includes my master's thesis, which was a perceptual study that asked the fundamental question: Is using FDS significantly beneficial for listener comprehension? This study found that FDS was beneficial for both native and non-native listeners alike, positioning its benefit close to clear speech.
Visual stimuli used in my thesis
Reaction time data findings
My current lines of inquiry surrounding FDS include:
- roles of listener feedback
- situational effects
- defining phonetic features that align or separate FDS with other listener-directed speech styles
Documentation of Judezmo (Ladino)
(2022 - active)
Documentation of Judezmo (Ladino)
(2022 - active)
I am currently a member of a two-person team seeking to document the language Judezmo spoke in Israel. While some documentation work has done on the speaker communities in Istanbul and Thessaloniki, no comparable work exists for speakers in Israel. On the EGID scale, Judezmo is considered moribund; there are only older speakers of the language and their numbers are diminishing quickly.
Our work is spurred by the absence of comprehensive audio or dialectal corpora for Judezmo, which in turn impacts resource access for revitalization efforts within and outside of the speaker community.
To create this corpus, our team will be conducting sociolinguistic interviews with native speakers residing in Israel of various dialectal backgrounds. This corpus will be utilized by the team for research on dialectal variation, for the creation of Ladino learning materials, and to explore the ways a corpus can be successfully built and mediated to assist in the above points.
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