My research
I recently completed my PhD in the University of Edinburgh, under the supervision of Pavel Iosad and Peter Ackema. My research focused on how initial consonant mutation (ICM) in Irish and the other Celtic languages can be analysed 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, I tease apart the roles played by each grammatical module in forming the highly complex ICM system that is found in Irish. I argue for an autosegmental account of ICM: floating phonological material interacts with the initial consonant of the target word to produce its mutated form. My PhD thesis explores the ways in which this material interacts with the surrounding phonological environment and domain structures in Irish.
See here for details of my presentations and publications to date.
Research summary
- Linguistic theory
- Celtic linguistics
- Phonology
- Morphosyntax
- Modularity
- Interactions between grammatical modules