Anna Laoide-Kemp

Thesis title: A modular analysis of Irish initial consonant mutation

PhD Linguistics

Year of study: 2

  • Linguistics and English Language
  • School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

Contact details

PhD supervisors:

Address

Street

Dugald Stewart Building

City
3 Charles Street, Edinburgh
Post code
EH8 9AD

Biography

Background

I am a PhD student in PPLS, working in the field of Theoretical Linguistics. My research interests include phonological and morphosyntactic theory, with a particular focus on the interface between these modules. My PhD project is on the analysis of Irish initial consonant mutations (ICM) within a modular grammatical architecture.

I have a diverse academic background, having initially studied Theoretical Physics and Mathematics in university before moving into Linguistics for my master's degree. While doing my master's, I became interested in initial consonant mutation (ICM) in the Celtic languages.  I wrote my MPhil dissertation on this topic, looking at how interactions between grammatical modules could be modelled within the framework of Optimality Theory. I am currently working towards a PhD, continuing my research into the theory of Irish initial consonant mutation, but this time with a focus on analysing ICM within a strictly modular grammatical architecture.

Qualifications

MPhil Linguistics (Trinity College Dublin): An Optimality Theory Approach to Initial Consonant Mutation in Modern Irish

MASt Mathematics (University of Cambridge)

BA (Hons) Theoretical Physics (Trinity College Dublin): Nonlinear Electromagnetism in General Relativity

Responsibilities & affiliations

Co-chair of LELPGC22 (6th-8th June 2022)

General Secretary of Language Lunch @ Edinburgh (2021-2022)

Undergraduate teaching

In 2023/24 I am tutoring on the following courses:

  • LEL2A: Linguistic Theory and the Structure of English (LASC08017)
  • LEL2D: Cross-Linguistic Variation: Limits and Theories (LASC08020)
  • PPLS Skills Centre: one-on-one academic writing appointments

In 2022/23 I tutored on the following courses:

  • LEL2A: Linguistic Theory and the Structure of English (LASC08017)
  • PPLS Skills Centre: one-on-one academic writing appointments

In 2021/22 I tutored on the following courses:

  • LEL1B: Linguistics and English Language 1B (LASC08023)
  • LEL2D: Cross-Linguistic Variation: Limits and Theories (LASC08020)

Research summary

Linguistic theory, Celtic linguistics, phonology, morphosyntax, modularity, interactions between grammatical modules

Current research interests

I am interested in the analysis of initial consonant mutation (ICM) in Irish and the other Celtic languages within a strictly modular grammatical architecture. ICM is the systematic phonological alternation of word-initial consonants in a range of morphosyntactically defined environments. Since it combines elements of phonology and morphosyntax in non-trivial ways, it is an ideal test bed for linguistic theory. In particular, an in-depth analysis of the system can inform our understanding of the interface between these two components of the grammar. Working within a strictly modular framework, my PhD project aims to tease apart the roles played by each grammatical module in forming the highly complex ICM system that is found in Irish. Considerable promise has been shown by autosegmental models, in which ICM is caused by floating phonological material that latches onto the initial consonant of a word to produce the corresponding mutated form. I am currently trying to identify and classify the sources of this mutation-triggering autosegmental material, focusing specifically on mutation in the Irish clause.

Organiser

I co-chaired the Linguistics and English Language Postgraduate Conference 2022 (LELPGC22), which was held in the University of Edinburgh, 6th-8th June 2022.

Papers delivered

Talk given at the 21st Sprachwissenschaftliche Tagung für Promotionsstudierende (STaPs-21) (online - hosted by Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, February 2024): "A strictly modular analysis of initial consonant mutation in Irish"

Talk given at the Western Conference on Linguistics (WECOL) (online - hosted by California State University,  Fresno, November 2023): "Irish initial consonant mutations: disentangling phonology from morphosyntax"

Talk given at LELPGC23 (University of Edinburgh, June 2023): "Irish initial consonant mutations: disentangling phonology from morphosyntax"

Poster presented at ACTL Summer School 2022 (University of York, June 2022): "Irish initial consonant mutations: disentangling phonology from morphosyntax"

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