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15 01, 2026

Research interns wanted for typological database development

2026-01-15T09:35:45+08:00

Prof. Jesus Olguin-Martinez, University of Hong Kong Linguistics Department D-CCCA: A database for syntactic typological research Syntactic typological databases have received a great deal of attention recently (e.g., The World Atlas of Language Structures online; Grambank; Atlas of Pidgin and Creole Language Structures online). These databases have contributed to our theoretical understanding of syntactic variation in typological perspective. However, much more work remains to be done. In particular, no syntactic typological database has focused on documenting groups of constructions that share similar semantic and pragmatic characteristics, as the following: (1) a. If you had gone, you would have seen her (standard [...]

Research interns wanted for typological database development2026-01-15T09:35:45+08:00
15 12, 2025

Precautioning purpose constructions in typological perspective: a functional trade-off between clause-linking devices and tense–aspect–mood (TAM) marking

2025-12-15T15:26:01+08:00

"Precautioning purpose constructions in typological perspective: a functional trade-off between clause-linking devices and tense–aspect–mood (TAM) marking" Journal of World Languages Olguín Martínez, Jesús. 2025. Precautioning purpose constructions in typological perspective: A functional trade-off between clause-linking devices and TAM marking. Journal of World Languages (published online).https://doi.org/10.1515/jwl-2025-0050 The study investigates how languages indicate precautioning purpose relations (e.g., I said it so that the child would not touch it) in a sample of 71 languages, focusing on the interaction between clause-linking devices and tense–aspect–mood (TAM) marking. It shows that languages either employ specialized clause-linking devices (e.g. equivalents of lest) or rely on non-specialized [...]

Precautioning purpose constructions in typological perspective: a functional trade-off between clause-linking devices and tense–aspect–mood (TAM) marking2025-12-15T15:26:01+08:00
4 12, 2025

Bottom-up modeling of phoneme learning: Universal sensitivity and language-specific transformation” published in Speech Communication

2025-12-06T12:28:42+08:00

“Bottom-up modeling of phoneme learning: Universal sensitivity and language-specific transformation” published in Speech Communication We are pleased to announce the publication of a new paper titled “Bottom-up modeling of phoneme learning: Universal sensitivity and language-specific transformation” in the journal Speech Communication. This study was conducted by Frank and Youngah. The research investigates the emergence and development of universal phonetic sensitivity during early phonological learning using an unsupervised modeling approach. The authors trained autoencoder models on raw acoustic input from English and Mandarin to simulate bottom-up perceptual development, focusing on phoneme contrast learning. The results demonstrate that phoneme-like categories and feature-aligned [...]

Bottom-up modeling of phoneme learning: Universal sensitivity and language-specific transformation” published in Speech Communication2025-12-06T12:28:42+08:00
6 11, 2025

[Linguistics Seminar on 27 Nov] Uncovering the dynamics of language shift: Ideologies, repertoires, and displacement

2025-12-06T12:39:42+08:00

Uncovering the dynamics of language shift: Ideologies, repertoires, and displacement Date: 27 Nov 2025 (Thu) Time: 4:00 pm Venue: Rm 3.04, 3/F Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 27 Nov] Uncovering the dynamics of language shift: Ideologies, repertoires, and displacement2025-12-06T12:39:42+08:00
6 11, 2025

[Linguistics Seminar on 20 Nov] Researching the contact language Lingala in the margins: From Brazza to Cabinda and Rwanda

2025-12-06T12:36:47+08:00

Researching the contact language Lingala in the margins: From Brazza to Cabinda and Rwanda Date: 20 Nov 2025 (Thu) Time: 4:00 pm Venue: Rm 3.04, 3/F Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU  

[Linguistics Seminar on 20 Nov] Researching the contact language Lingala in the margins: From Brazza to Cabinda and Rwanda2025-12-06T12:36:47+08:00
20 10, 2025

Awards – Olguín Martínez, Jesús

2025-10-21T11:21:32+08:00

The interaction of standard negation in clauses of substitution: a typological account I am this year’s recipient of the Anna Siewierska Award from the Societas Linguistica Europaea (SLE), recognizing the best article published in Folia Linguistica (FL). FL is one of the leading journals in linguistics, and SLE is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious professional organizations for linguists in Europe. The following is the paper that was the winner: https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/flin-2023-2044/html?srsltid=AfmBOorRWgkLjSt4wJlQF9wNvwo9F17eqdmu7hUuh305-GgzbVBKXKEW Publications

Awards – Olguín Martínez, Jesús2025-10-21T11:21:32+08:00
20 10, 2025

2025. Similative-pretence constructions in language contact situations: A Usage-Based Construction Grammar perspective. Cognitive Linguistic Studies 12. 292-321.

2025-10-20T16:49:11+08:00

2025. Similative-pretence constructions in language contact situations: A Usage-Based Construction Grammar perspective. Cognitive Linguistic Studies 12. 292-321   Similative-pretence constructions in language contact situations A Usage-Based Construction Grammar perspective Jesús Olguín Martínez | University of Hong Kong Stefan Th. Gries | Justus-Liebig University Giessen | UC Santa Barbara The present study introduces a method that can be used to explore in a quantitatively rigorous yet less demanding way (both in terms of data and statistical requirements) how constructional templates and their lexical preferences (lexico-syntactic transference) diffuse in language contact situations. The study investigates the influence of Mexican Spanish similative-pretence constructions on Huasteca Nahuatl similative-pretence constructions as a proof-of-concept [...]

2025. Similative-pretence constructions in language contact situations: A Usage-Based Construction Grammar perspective. Cognitive Linguistic Studies 12. 292-321.2025-10-20T16:49:11+08:00
20 10, 2025

2025. Exceptive constructions in Huasteca Nahuatl: On the interaction of syntax and discourse in language use. Studies in Language (published online)

2025-10-20T16:43:58+08:00

2025. Exceptive constructions in Huasteca Nahuatl: On the interaction of syntax and discourse in language use. Studies in Language (published online) Exceptive constructions in Huasteca Nahuatl On the interaction of syntax and discourse in language use Jesús Olguín Martínez | University of Hong Kong The paper explores exceptive constructions (e.g., all my family went to the wedding except Mark) in Huasteca Nahuatl (Uto-Aztecan). It is shown that connected and free exceptives have developed intriguing discourse-pragmatic functions that have not been identified by previous studies. While connected exceptives (e.g., everyone except Pedro went to the meeting) indicate a surprising situation, free exceptives (e.g., everyone went to [...]

2025. Exceptive constructions in Huasteca Nahuatl: On the interaction of syntax and discourse in language use. Studies in Language (published online)2025-10-20T16:43:58+08:00
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
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