Research Overview

My research investigates the dynamic interplay between structure and variability in the sound systems of human language. I am fascinated by spoken language because it involves the interaction of many complex systems, including the biology of the vocal tract, the physics of sound, the dynamics of the brain, skilled movement, and the sociocultural dimensions of language use. To this end, I am particularly interested in modelling the relationship between the brain, body and environment during human speech using conceptual and mathematical tools from dynamical systems, nonlinear dynamics, and synergetics. This spans a number of topics, including the relationship between high-dimensional phonetic variation and low-dimensional phonology, the role of acoustic-articulatory relations in phonological cognition, and the processes behind short-term and long-term sound changes. The majority of my work investigates speech production using electromagnetic articulography, ultrasound tongue imaging, and computational modelling.

I have previously done research on the phonetics of bilingualism, sociophonetic variation, minority languages, and phonetic typology.

I am currently working on the following projects:

• Modelling the dynamics of phonetic variation & phonological change (AHRC fellowship, 2024-25)
• Targets and dynamics in speech (with Patrycja Strycharczuk, AHRC standard grant, 2019-23)