Anna Laoide-Kemp
PhD Linguistics & English Language
- Linguistics and English Language
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences
Contact details
- Email: anna.laoide-kemp@ed.ac.uk
- Web: personal website
Address
- Street
-
Dugald Stewart Building
- City
- 3 Charles Street, Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH8 9AD
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
LEL Tutor Representative (PPLS, 2024-2025)
Co-chair of LELPGC22 (6th-8th June 2022)
General Secretary of Language Lunch @ Edinburgh (2021-2022)
Undergraduate teaching
In 2024/25 I am tutoring on the following courses:
- Syntax: Theory and Practice (LASC10084)
- PPLS Skills Centre: one-on-one academic writing appointments
I have previously tutored on the following courses:
- LEL1B: Linguistics and English Language 1B (LASC08023) (2022)
- LEL2A: Linguistic Theory and the Structure of English (LASC08017) (2022, 2023)
- LEL2D: Cross-Linguistic Variation: Limits and Theories (LASC08020) (2022, 2024)
- PPLS Skills Centre: one-on-one academic writing appointments (2022-present)
Postgraduate teaching
In 2024/25 I am tutoring on the following courses:
- Introduction to Syntax (MSc) (LASC11085)
- Quantitative Methods in Linguistics and English Language (MSc) (LASC11187)
I will also be guest lecturing for three weeks on the following course:
- Introduction to Phonology (MSc) (LASC11089)
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 Workshop on Myopia in Grammar (Universität Leipzig, June 2024): "Myopic effects in the Irish initial consonant mutation system"
Talk given at LELPGC24 (University of Edinburgh, June 2024): "Two sources of initial consonant mutation in the Irish clause"
Talk given at the 33rd Colloquium on Generative Grammar (CGG) (University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, May 2024): "Two sources of initial consonant mutation in the Irish clause"
Talk given at the Manchester Forum in Linguistics (MFiL) (University of Manchester, April 2024): "Two sources of initial consonant mutation in the Irish clause"
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"