Publications

23 01, 2026

Filler-slot relations in language contact: Lexico-syntactic transference from a usage-based perspective – Jesús Olguín-Martinez

Steven Chan2026-01-23T15:56:36+08:00

Filler-slot relations in language contact: Lexico-syntactic transference from a usage-based perspective – Jesús Olguín-Martinez Olguín Martínez, Jesús & Stefan Th. Gries. 2026. Filler-slot relations in language contact: Lexico-syntactic transference from a usage-based perspective. Review of Cognitive Linguistics (published online). https://doi.org/10.1075/rcl.00250.olg The study investigates the influence of Mexican Spanish similative (e.g., he swims like a fish) and pretence constructions (e.g., he swims as if he were a fish) on those found in four Mesoamerican languages: Huasteca Nahuatl, Papantla Totonac, San Gabriel Huastec, and Uxpanapa Chinantec. Using predictive modeling, we demonstrate that these indigenous languages have not only borrowed the markers komo [...]

Filler-slot relations in language contact: Lexico-syntactic transference from a usage-based perspective – Jesús Olguín-MartinezSteven Chan2026-01-23T15:56:36+08:00

16 01, 2026

Talk for A’ingae nasality always floats (Dr. Maksymilian Dąbkowski)

Steven Chan2026-01-16T09:26:18+08:00

A'ingae nasality always floats Abstract: The phonology of nasality in A'ingae (or Cofán, ISO 639-3: con) is complex and has received several treatments in the previous literature (e.g. Bennett et al., t.a.; Sanker, 2025; Sanker and AnderBois, 2024). In this talk, I focus specifically on nasality in the language's native roots, and observe a new restriction on its distribution: If present, nasality always "starts" from the left edge and extends through (a part of) the root. To account for this pattern, I propose that nasality in A'ingae is always a floating feature that associates from the left, and all segments [...]

Talk for A’ingae nasality always floats (Dr. Maksymilian Dąbkowski)Steven Chan2026-01-16T09:26:18+08:00

20 10, 2025

Awards – Olguín Martínez, Jesús

Steven Chan2025-10-21T11:21:32+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, JesúsSteven Chan2025-10-21T11:21:32+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.

Steven Chan2025-10-20T16:49:11+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.Steven Chan2025-10-20T16:49:11+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)

Steven Chan2025-10-20T16:43:58+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)Steven Chan2025-10-20T16:43:58+08:00

17 10, 2025

[Linguistics Seminar on 13 Nov] Tone Development and Change

Steven Chan2025-10-17T01:08:08+08:00

Tone Development and Change Date: 13 Nov 2025 (Thu) Time: 4:00 pm Venue: Rm 3.04, 3/F Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 13 Nov] Tone Development and ChangeSteven Chan2025-10-17T01:08:08+08:00

17 10, 2025

[Linguistics Seminar on 30 Oct] On the alignment and misalignment of speech perception and production

Steven Chan2025-10-17T01:19:13+08:00

On the alignment and misalignment of speech perception and productionDate: 30 Oct 2025 (Thu)Time: 4:00 pmVenue: Rm 3.04, 3/F Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 30 Oct] On the alignment and misalignment of speech perception and productionSteven Chan2025-10-17T01:19:13+08:00

8 02, 2025

[Linguistics Seminar on 27 Feb] Nasal vowel production in Chinese: A multimodal articulatory study

Steven Chan2025-06-03T12:24:10+08:00

Nasal vowel production in Chinese: A multimodal articulatory study Date: 27 February, 2025 (Thu) Time: Start at 4:30 pm Venue: Rm 404, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 27 Feb] Nasal vowel production in Chinese: A multimodal articulatory studySteven Chan2025-06-03T12:24:10+08:00

22 11, 2024

[Linguistics Seminar on 28 Nov] On the Irish agreement pattern and its parallels

Steven Chan2024-11-22T17:03:19+08:00

On the Irish agreement pattern and its parallels Date: 28 November, 2024 (Monday) Time: Start at 3:30 pm Venue: CPD-LG.40, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 28 Nov] On the Irish agreement pattern and its parallelsSteven Chan2024-11-22T17:03:19+08:00

15 11, 2024

[Linguistics Seminar on 21 Nov] Determinants of speech rate in naturalistic speech

Steven Chan2024-11-15T12:58:10+08:00

Determinants of speech rate in naturalistic speech Date: 21 November, 2024 (Monday) Time: Start at 3:30 pm Venue: Rm 7.58, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 21 Nov] Determinants of speech rate in naturalistic speechSteven Chan2024-11-15T12:58:10+08:00

7 11, 2024

[Linguistics Seminar on 11 Nov] Individual versus systematic variation in speech: Examining sibilant and prosodic contrasts

Steven Chan2024-11-07T15:15:28+08:00

Individual versus systematic variation in speech: Examining sibilant and prosodic contrasts Date: 11 November, 2024 (Monday) Time: Start at 3:30 pm Venue: Rm 7.58, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 11 Nov] Individual versus systematic variation in speech: Examining sibilant and prosodic contrastsSteven Chan2024-11-07T15:15:28+08:00

30 10, 2024

[Linguistics Seminar on 7 Nov] Revisiting mora-timing effects in Japanese vowel devoicing from a recoverability perspective

Steven Chan2024-11-01T10:52:21+08:00

Revisiting mora-timing effects in Japanese vowel devoicing from a recoverability perspective Date: 7 November, 2024 (Thursday) Time: Start at 3:30 pm **This seminar will be conducted via Zoom** https://hku.zoom.us/j/93426875974?pwd=ceguJeDVgfllJIjKYAZgi3pobtJyga.1

[Linguistics Seminar on 7 Nov] Revisiting mora-timing effects in Japanese vowel devoicing from a recoverability perspectiveSteven Chan2024-11-01T10:52:21+08:00

25 10, 2024

[Linguistics Seminar on 31 Oct] Disentangling convergence and interference in Xiang elicited narratives

Steven Chan2024-10-25T10:21:51+08:00

Disentangling convergence and interference in Xiang elicited narratives Date: 31 October, 2024 (Thursday) Time: Start at 3:30 pm Venue: CPD-LG.61, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 31 Oct] Disentangling convergence and interference in Xiang elicited narrativesSteven Chan2024-10-25T10:21:51+08:00

21 10, 2024

Information Day 2024

Steven Chan2024-10-21T12:51:52+08:00

The annual HKU Information Day for Undergraduate Admissions 2024 will be held on Saturday, Oct 26th. Our department will be hosting booth to provide prospective undergraduate students and visitors with information about HKU Linguistics. Come and join our Information Counter at CPD-LG.07~LG.10. We look forward to seeing you! More details can be found here: Faculty of Arts-Info Day Location details: LG.07~LG.10, Centennial Campus, Central Podium Levels – Lower Ground (CPD-LG)

Information Day 2024Steven Chan2024-10-21T12:51:52+08:00

21 10, 2024

[Linguistics Seminar on 24 Oct] Learners’ generalization of alternation patterns from ambiguous data

Steven Chan2024-10-21T12:46:26+08:00

Learners’ generalization of alternation patterns from ambiguous data Date: 24 October, 2024 (Thursday) Time: Start at 3:30 pm Venue: CPD-LG.61, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 24 Oct] Learners’ generalization of alternation patterns from ambiguous dataSteven Chan2024-10-21T12:46:26+08:00

30 09, 2024

[Linguistics Seminar on 17 Oct] The Dynamics of Iconicity and Morphophonological Structure in HKSL Sign Recognition: Insights from Pupillary Response and Reaction Time Data

Steven Chan2024-09-30T14:49:43+08:00

The Dynamics of Iconicity and Morphophonological Structure in HKSL Sign Recognition: Insights from Pupillary Response and Reaction Time Data Date: 17 October, 2024 (Thursday) Time: Start at 3:30 pm Venue: CPD-LG.59, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 17 Oct] The Dynamics of Iconicity and Morphophonological Structure in HKSL Sign Recognition: Insights from Pupillary Response and Reaction Time DataSteven Chan2024-09-30T14:49:43+08:00

13 09, 2024

[Linguistics Seminar on 26 Sep] Etymological Roots and Cross-Script Cognate Processing in Korean-Chinese Bilinguals

Steven Chan2024-09-16T12:26:01+08:00

Etymological Roots and Cross-Script Cognate Processing in Korean-Chinese Bilinguals Date: 26 September, 2024 (Thursday) Time: Start at 3:30 pm Venue: CPD-LG.61, Centennial Campus, HKU

[Linguistics Seminar on 26 Sep] Etymological Roots and Cross-Script Cognate Processing in Korean-Chinese BilingualsSteven Chan2024-09-16T12:26:01+08:00

10 07, 2024

LDL WINS FACULTY KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AWARD!

Steven Chan2024-07-10T16:15:39+08:00

HKSL Consultant Fung Sir introduces our research to the Deaf. We are thrilled to announce that the Language Development Lab (LDL) has been awarded the Faculty Knowledge Exchange Award 2024 for our project titled “The Sound of Silence: A Journey Through Deaf Culture in Hong Kong.” This prestigious award recognizes outstanding research projects that demonstrate exceptional knowledge exchange between the University and the broader community. Led by Youngah, the LDL team has been working collaboratively with various Deaf community organizations for the past few years. This project aimed to document, preserve, and promote Hong Kong Sign Language (HKSL), while also [...]

LDL WINS FACULTY KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AWARD!Steven Chan2024-07-10T16:15:39+08:00

24 04, 2024

“VIVIDNESS OF MANDARIN ABB WORDS” PUBLISHED ON LANGCOG”

Steven Chan2024-04-24T16:18:26+08:00

In the latest published journal article on Language and Cognition, LDL researchers found ABB words to be characterized by their high imageability, confirming their vivid nature. By LDL Post date: 2024-04-24 https://linguistics.hku.hk/ldlhku/2024/04/24/vividness-of-mandarin-abb-words-published-on-langcog/

“VIVIDNESS OF MANDARIN ABB WORDS” PUBLISHED ON LANGCOG”Steven Chan2024-04-24T16:18:26+08:00

21 08, 2023

“Substantive bias and variation in the acquisition of vowel harmony” published in Glossa!

Departmental Editor2023-08-21T10:45:45+08:00

Our alumni, Tingyu Huang (Ph.D., 2022; Sichuan University), along with Youngah Do, has recently published a paper titled "Substantive bias and variation in the acquisition of vowel harmony" in the journal Glossa! This study is an exciting contribution to our understanding of the role of input variability in phonological acquisition. Click here to access the paper.

“Substantive bias and variation in the acquisition of vowel harmony” published in Glossa!Departmental Editor2023-08-21T10:45:45+08:00