19.2568, Support: Phonology: PhD Student, University of Alberta

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LINGUIST List: Vol-19-2568. Thu Aug 21 2008. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 19.2568, Support: Phonology: PhD Student, University of Alberta

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1)
Date: 20-Aug-2008
From: Robert Kirchner < kirchner at ualberta.ca >
Subject: Phonology: PhD Student, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

 

	
-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:23:47
From: Robert Kirchner [kirchner at ualberta.ca]
Subject: Phonology: PhD Student, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
E-mail this message to a friend:
http://linguistlist.org/issues/emailmessage/verification.cfm?iss=19-2568.html&submissionid=187445&topicid=12&msgnumber=1  

Institution/Organization: University of Alberta 
Department: Linguistics 
Web Address: http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/linguistics 

Level: PhD 

Duties: Research
 
Specialty Areas: Phonology 
Phonetics, Computational Linguistics 

Description:

Assistantship in Exemplar-based Phonology

The Department of Linguistics at the University of Alberta is inviting 
applications for a PhD student research assistantship position, beginning 
January or September 2009, on exemplar-based approaches to phonology. 

A fundamental question of linguistic theory is how spoken language is 
encoded in the mental lexicon. The standard view, that phonological patterns 
are learned over symbolic representations, has increasingly come into 
question, as failing to provide a natural account of frequency effects and 
gradient sound change.  An alternative view is that words and phrases are 
stored as clusters of exemplars, including detailed, individuated memories of 
the speech signal. Speech processing, under this view, involves massive 
comparison of exemplars, with phonological patterns (as well as low-level 
patterns of gradient phonetic variation) emerging as abstractions over the 
raw data. 

A cutting-edge area of inquiry, then, is the development of explicit 
computational models which perform this sort of comparison on real, 
variable-length speech signals. Students will be expected to participate 
actively in the conceptualization, implementation, and testing of such 
models. Further details of this project, part of an international collaboration 
with computer scientists at University of Sheffield (Speech and Hearing), can 
be found at http://www.ualberta.ca/~kirchner/PEBLS.html.

This assistantship is designed to provide talented PhD student applicants 
with stable funding for the duration of their studies and to facilitate their 
involvement as junior colleagues in the academic life of the Department. 
Students will have the opportunity to present the results of individual 
research at conferences and, where appropriate, will be encouraged to 
publish their results in professional venues.

The assistantship will be at the rate of $15,000 per 8 month academic
term (September - April).  [There may also be opportunities for other
summer employment through other Linguistics research projects or through
Linguistics summer session teaching.]

Preference will be given to applicants with a strong background in phonology 
and phonetics, preferably at the graduate level, with good programming 
skills, including some familiarity with (or willingness to learn) Matlab/Octave.

The initial application should include: a) a letter that summarizes past 
experience and outlines the candidate's research interests and proposed area 
of study,  b) an academic writing sample (a recent paper, thesis chapter, or 
article), and c) the names and email addresses of three referees.  These 
materials may be sent electronically or by surface mail.  

Taking up this position is normally contingent upon admission to the PhD 
Programme in Linguistics; applicants are encouraged to meet Departmental 
deadlines for applications, as outlined on the UofA Linguistics Website at 
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/linguistics/Admissions.cfm.

Initial applications for the assistantship should be sent to Robert Kirchner at
the application address listed below. 

Application Deadline: 15-Oct-2008 

Mailing Address for Applications:
	Attn: Dr. Robert Kirchner 
	Department of Linguistics
	University of Alberta
	Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E7
	Canada 	
	
Contact Information: 
	Dr. Robert Kirchner 
	kirchner at ualberta.ca 
	Phone:780 492-3480 
	Fax:780 492-3480  





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