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So far Steven Chan has created 70 blog entries.
17 10, 2025

[Linguistics Seminar on 6 Nov] Cross-linguistic perceptual evidence for the suffixing preference

2025-10-17T01:09:55+08:00

Cross-linguistic perceptual evidence for the suffixing preference Date: 6 Nov 2025 (Thu) Time: 4:00 pm Join Zoom link: https://hku.zoom.us/j/98370566345?pwd=FHgSMHHyYrjCka4XRAOOw6uuOXiRiE.1 MEETING ID: 983 7056 6345 PASSWORD: 104306

[Linguistics Seminar on 6 Nov] Cross-linguistic perceptual evidence for the suffixing preference2025-10-17T01:09:55+08:00
19 09, 2025

“Attention-LSTM autoencoder simulation for phonotactic learning from raw audio input” published in Linguistics Vanguard

2025-09-19T11:41:30+08:00

“Attention-LSTM autoencoder simulation for phonotactic learning from raw audio input” published in Linguistics Vanguard We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper by Frank Lihui Tan and Youngah Do in the journal Linguistics Vanguard. The paper, titled “Attention-LSTM autoencoder simulation for phonotactic learning from raw audio input,” explores a novel approach to phonotactic learning using an attention-based long short-term memory (LSTM) autoencoder trained on raw audio input. Unlike previous models that rely on abstract phonological representations, this study simulates early phonotactic acquisition stages by processing continuous acoustic signals. The research focuses on an English phonotactic pattern, specifically [...]

“Attention-LSTM autoencoder simulation for phonotactic learning from raw audio input” published in Linguistics Vanguard2025-09-19T11:41:30+08:00
4 09, 2025

Phonological optimization for sight and sound: Disentangling visual-articulatory and auditory-acoustic factors in phonetic enhancement and hyperarticulation

2025-09-04T17:30:33+08:00

Phonological optimization for sight and sound: Disentangling visual-articulatory and auditory-acoustic factors in phonetic enhancement and hyperarticulation General Research Fund Award (GRF), 2025-28 Principal investigator: Jonathan Havenhill Amount: 941,184 HKD Abstract Sound is arguably the primary (and often only) medium by which spoken language is conveyed. This allows communication to proceed when the speaker is obscured, whether over the phone, in the dark, at a distance, or when wearing a face mask. At the same time, vision and other types of non-auditory perception are also important. Spoken language is often accompanied by facial expressions and manual gestures, and the ability to [...]

Phonological optimization for sight and sound: Disentangling visual-articulatory and auditory-acoustic factors in phonetic enhancement and hyperarticulation2025-09-04T17:30:33+08:00
2 09, 2025

“Tonal Assignment of Chinese Lettered Words” published in Journal of Chinese Linguistics

2025-09-02T09:53:29+08:00

“Tonal Assignment of Chinese Lettered Words” published in Journal of Chinese Linguistics We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper by Zhihao Wang and Youngah Do in the Journal of Chinese Linguistics. The paper, titled “Tonal Assignment of Chinese Lettered Words,” explores the complex patterns of tonal assignment in Chinese lettered words, particularly in Beijing Mandarin. The study reveals that Chinese lettered words display a clear stress-to-tone match pattern, with additional rules of phonetic contrast maximization and a default rule also playing a role in tonal assignment. The findings suggest that the complex patterns previously reported in [...]

“Tonal Assignment of Chinese Lettered Words” published in Journal of Chinese Linguistics2025-09-02T09:53:29+08:00
5 06, 2025

“Bilinguals’ advantages in executive function” published in Second Lang. Res.

2025-06-05T14:30:01+08:00

“Bilinguals’ advantages in executive function” published in Second Lang. Res. We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper by Samuel, Xiaoyu, Thomas, Bingzi, and Youngah. The paper, titled “Bilinguals’ Advantages in Executive Function: Learning Phonotactics and Alternation,” has been published in Second Language Research. This study investigates the relationship between phonotactics and alternation in phonological acquisition and explores whether bilingual speakers have an advantage in learning alternation patterns that are not fully supported by phonotactics. Phonotactics refers to the legal sequences and structures within a language’s phonology, while alternation involves context-sensitive changes in morphemes. The research predicts that [...]

“Bilinguals’ advantages in executive function” published in Second Lang. Res.2025-06-05T14:30:01+08:00
3 06, 2025

[Linguistics Seminar on 18 Jun] Chinese ideophone modality exclusivity: Comparing behavioral data with neurolinguistic data (fNIRS)

2025-06-03T17:35:44+08:00

Chinese ideophone modality exclusivity: Comparing behavioral data with neurolinguistic data (fNIRS) Date: 18 Jun 2025 (Wed) Time: 1:00 pm Venue: Rm 3.01 Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 18 Jun] Chinese ideophone modality exclusivity: Comparing behavioral data with neurolinguistic data (fNIRS)2025-06-03T17:35:44+08:00
30 04, 2025

“Iconic hand gestures from ideophones exhibit stability and emergent phonological properties” published in CogLing

2025-04-30T10:52:22+08:00

“Iconic hand gestures from ideophones exhibit stability and emergent phonological properties” published in CogLing We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper by Arthur, Thomas (joint first authors), Aaron, and Youngah in the journal Cognitive Linguistics. The paper, titled “Iconic hand gestures from ideophones exhibit stability and emergent phonological properties: an iterated learning study,” explores the stability and phonological properties of iconic hand gestures associated with ideophones. Ideophones are marked words that depict sensory imagery and are usually considered iconic by native speakers. The study investigates how these gestures are transmitted across generations using a linear iterated learning [...]

“Iconic hand gestures from ideophones exhibit stability and emergent phonological properties” published in CogLing2025-04-30T10:52:22+08:00
26 03, 2025

[Linguistics Seminar on 3 Apr] When social speech signals are not favored: enhancing the use of speech prosody in autistic children through perceptual training and human-robot interaction

2025-06-03T12:23:07+08:00

When social speech signals are not favored: enhancing the use of speech prosody in autistic children through perceptual training and human-robot interaction Date: 3 Apr, 2025 (Thu) Time: Start at 3:30 pm Venue: Rm 758, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 3 Apr] When social speech signals are not favored: enhancing the use of speech prosody in autistic children through perceptual training and human-robot interaction2025-06-03T12:23:07+08:00
25 02, 2025

[Linguistics Seminar on 6 Mar] Relevance-theoretical approach to improving LLMs’ reasoning of authentic implicit toxic language

2025-06-03T12:23:27+08:00

Relevance-theoretical approach to improving LLMs’ reasoning of authentic implicit toxic language Date: 6 March, 2025 (Thu) Time: Start at 3:30 pm * This seminar will be conducted via Zoom: https://hku.zoom.us/j/97385178645 Share This Event!

[Linguistics Seminar on 6 Mar] Relevance-theoretical approach to improving LLMs’ reasoning of authentic implicit toxic language2025-06-03T12:23:27+08:00
11 02, 2025

LING2076

2025-02-11T11:42:51+08:00

LING2076 Mind and body: A holistic approach to the sounds of language Dr. Jonathan Havenhill Advanced Course. Sem 2 , 6 credits Course Description The study of the sound systems of human language is unique in that it considers both the role of our body (Phonetics) and mind (Phonology). How we internalize sound systems (Phonology) is often clearly dependent on the operation of our body (Phonetics); yet grammatical generalizations of sound systems can also abstract away from the physical properties of sounds. How different or similar can phonology and phonetics be? Where exactly does the border between the two lie? Over [...]

LING20762025-02-11T11:42:51+08:00
16 01, 2025

“Preference for Distinct Variants in Learning Sound Correspondences During Dialect Acquisition” published on Language and Speech

2025-04-30T14:58:06+08:00

“Preference for Distinct Variants in Learning Sound Correspondences During Dialect Acquisition” published on Language and Speech We are pleased to announce that Xiaoyu and Youngah’s paper, “Preference for Distinct Variants in Learning Sound Correspondences During Dialect Acquisition,” has been published in the journal Language and Speech. This research delves into how learners acquire sound correspondences (SCs) in second dialect acquisition. SCs occur when sounds occupy corresponding positions in cognate words of related languages or dialects. While SCs can consist of both similar and distinct variants, the impact of this similarity on learning has been understudied. In their study, Xiaoyu and Youngah [...]

“Preference for Distinct Variants in Learning Sound Correspondences During Dialect Acquisition” published on Language and Speech2025-04-30T14:58:06+08:00
17 12, 2024

“Substantive Bias in Artificial Phonology Learning” published on Lang. Linguist. Compass

2024-12-17T11:22:20+08:00

“Substantive Bias in Artificial Phonology Learning” published on Lang. Linguist. Compass Artistic impression of the study. (AI-generated artwork) We are pleased to announce the publication of a review article by Ivy and Youngah, in Language and Linguistics Compass. The article, titled “Substantive Bias in Artificial Phonology Learning,” provides a comprehensive review of the research on substantive bias in phonological learning since the influential 2012 paper by Moreton and Pater. The review categorizes studies into vowel, consonant, and suprasegmental patterns, highlighting advancements in experimental paradigms, the definition of phonetic naturalness, and the exploration of various phonological phenomena. It emphasizes how subtle methodological [...]

“Substantive Bias in Artificial Phonology Learning” published on Lang. Linguist. Compass2024-12-17T11:22:20+08:00
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