Alexandra Pfiffner
@ampfiffner.bsky.social
Assistant Prof of Linguistics @ UGA
Super excited to see this work with @baichendu.bsky.social in print! We did an audiovisual production experiment with native speakers of Mandarin, focusing on the co-variance of lip gestures and acoustic cues. 🎥🎤👄
When a phonological contrast is undergoing #merger, can visible articulatory cues co-vary with acoustic cues to enhance the contrast and shape the direction of #soundchange? @baichendu.bsky.social and @ampfiffner.bsky.social analyze #Mandarin #sibilants: doi.org/10.16995/lab... #LabPhon #openaccess
The co-variance of acoustic cues and lip gestures in the production of the Mandarin sibilant contrast
Phonological contrasts in speech production and perception are frequently studied with acoustic and/or auditory cues. Less is known about how visual properties are incorporated in a contrast and how/i...
www.journal-labphon.org
August 26, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Super excited to see this work with @baichendu.bsky.social in print! We did an audiovisual production experiment with native speakers of Mandarin, focusing on the co-variance of lip gestures and acoustic cues. 🎥🎤👄
I’ve been sitting on some big news for a while. Time to share. :)
After four amazing years as a lecturer at UC Berkeley, I’m now a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia. I am beyond excited for this next chapter!
After four amazing years as a lecturer at UC Berkeley, I’m now a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia. I am beyond excited for this next chapter!
August 5, 2026 at 3:47 PM
I’ve been sitting on some big news for a while. Time to share. :)
After four amazing years as a lecturer at UC Berkeley, I’m now a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia. I am beyond excited for this next chapter!
After four amazing years as a lecturer at UC Berkeley, I’m now a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia. I am beyond excited for this next chapter!
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
Someone suggested today at @labphon.bsky.social that academic posters need a QR code going to an email signup for "please send me the official version of this paper once it's done and citable"
And all I could say was YES PLEASE CAN I HELP TWEET THIS INTO EXISTENCE
And all I could say was YES PLEASE CAN I HELP TWEET THIS INTO EXISTENCE
June 27, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Someone suggested today at @labphon.bsky.social that academic posters need a QR code going to an email signup for "please send me the official version of this paper once it's done and citable"
And all I could say was YES PLEASE CAN I HELP TWEET THIS INTO EXISTENCE
And all I could say was YES PLEASE CAN I HELP TWEET THIS INTO EXISTENCE
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
Pleased to share that “ASL Signbank” through Cambridge Elements (Sign Language Series) is out!
It’s free for the next two weeks. You can find it here doi.org/10.1017/9781...
Thanks to Erin Wilkinson and David Quinto-Pozos, editors of Sign Language Series, for their support!
#ASLSignbank
It’s free for the next two weeks. You can find it here doi.org/10.1017/9781...
Thanks to Erin Wilkinson and David Quinto-Pozos, editors of Sign Language Series, for their support!
#ASLSignbank
June 19, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Pleased to share that “ASL Signbank” through Cambridge Elements (Sign Language Series) is out!
It’s free for the next two weeks. You can find it here doi.org/10.1017/9781...
Thanks to Erin Wilkinson and David Quinto-Pozos, editors of Sign Language Series, for their support!
#ASLSignbank
It’s free for the next two weeks. You can find it here doi.org/10.1017/9781...
Thanks to Erin Wilkinson and David Quinto-Pozos, editors of Sign Language Series, for their support!
#ASLSignbank
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
Our new book on sign language linguistics (adapted from the 2007 Auslan linguistics book) isn't out until next month, but over 500 clips of BSL and ASL sign examples from the book can be downloaded now! Take a look at the resources section on the book's webpage.
www.cambridge.org/highereducat...
www.cambridge.org/highereducat...
Sign Language Linguistics | Cambridge Aspire website
Discover Sign Language Linguistics, 1st Edition, Adam Schembri, HB ISBN: 9781107077140 on Cambridge Aspire website
www.cambridge.org
June 18, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Our new book on sign language linguistics (adapted from the 2007 Auslan linguistics book) isn't out until next month, but over 500 clips of BSL and ASL sign examples from the book can be downloaded now! Take a look at the resources section on the book's webpage.
www.cambridge.org/highereducat...
www.cambridge.org/highereducat...
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
Published today. The vowel in 'just' is undergoing an independent sound change, separate from any changes to KIT or STRUT. Filed under the ever-growing category of "things that were supposed to be fun little papers, that unexpectedly ended up taking many years"
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
www.degruyterbrill.com
May 14, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Published today. The vowel in 'just' is undergoing an independent sound change, separate from any changes to KIT or STRUT. Filed under the ever-growing category of "things that were supposed to be fun little papers, that unexpectedly ended up taking many years"
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
New place of articulation just dropped
April 29, 2026 at 12:28 AM
New place of articulation just dropped
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
‼️🔔 My paper, "Hypercorrect Moun[tʰɨn] in Utah English", has now been published in English World-Wide. 🎉🥳🎊
tl;dr: Utahns say [tʰ] in words like "mountain" more than people in other regions.
www.jbe-platform.com/content/jour...
tl;dr: Utahns say [tʰ] in words like "mountain" more than people in other regions.
www.jbe-platform.com/content/jour...
Hypercorrect Moun[thɨn] in Utah English
Abstract This study analyzes unstressed /tən/ in words like button, kitten, and mountain. In Utah, there are three variants: North American mainstream [ʔn̩], forticized [thɨn], and local [ʔɨn]. While ...
www.jbe-platform.com
March 16, 2026 at 7:49 PM
‼️🔔 My paper, "Hypercorrect Moun[tʰɨn] in Utah English", has now been published in English World-Wide. 🎉🥳🎊
tl;dr: Utahns say [tʰ] in words like "mountain" more than people in other regions.
www.jbe-platform.com/content/jour...
tl;dr: Utahns say [tʰ] in words like "mountain" more than people in other regions.
www.jbe-platform.com/content/jour...
Super excited to share that my Afrikaans paper has been published! Following in the footsteps of Coetzee et al. (2018), I examine age and gender effects in the ongoing tonogenesis in Afrikaans. 📖 Open access here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Women of All Ages Lead Tonogenesis in Afrikaans | Journal of Germanic Linguistics | Cambridge Core
Women of All Ages Lead Tonogenesis in Afrikaans - Volume 37 Issue 3
www.cambridge.org
October 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Super excited to share that my Afrikaans paper has been published! Following in the footsteps of Coetzee et al. (2018), I examine age and gender effects in the ongoing tonogenesis in Afrikaans. 📖 Open access here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
This is actually the worst thing I’ve seen from federal granting agencies thus far.
This CDC "survey" getting sent to grantees is wild yall.
This is some serious "Kiss my Ring" level bullshit.
This is some serious "Kiss my Ring" level bullshit.
March 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This is actually the worst thing I’ve seen from federal granting agencies thus far.
I genuinely don't know how this started, but I absolutely love it 🐈⬛
January 18, 2025 at 11:08 PM
I genuinely don't know how this started, but I absolutely love it 🐈⬛
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
After we released this bonus episode, very talented listener Melody sent us these photos of her own crocheted model of the vocal tract! She kindly gave us permission to share them publicly.
If you too have a crocheted vocal tract that you've made, please send us pictures, we'd love to see more!
If you too have a crocheted vocal tract that you've made, please send us pictures, we'd love to see more!
January 17, 2025 at 10:51 PM
After we released this bonus episode, very talented listener Melody sent us these photos of her own crocheted model of the vocal tract! She kindly gave us permission to share them publicly.
If you too have a crocheted vocal tract that you've made, please send us pictures, we'd love to see more!
If you too have a crocheted vocal tract that you've made, please send us pictures, we'd love to see more!
It’s fun to catch up with friends at #LSA2025 & #ADS2025, and WOTY is always a highlight.
But nothing will beat @mkb933.bsky.social GIVING A TALK ON SOMEONE ELSE’S BEHALF (not a coauthor!), on short notice, while chairing the session, and then taking questions to pass on to authors.
Legendary.
But nothing will beat @mkb933.bsky.social GIVING A TALK ON SOMEONE ELSE’S BEHALF (not a coauthor!), on short notice, while chairing the session, and then taking questions to pass on to authors.
Legendary.
January 14, 2025 at 10:56 PM
It’s fun to catch up with friends at #LSA2025 & #ADS2025, and WOTY is always a highlight.
But nothing will beat @mkb933.bsky.social GIVING A TALK ON SOMEONE ELSE’S BEHALF (not a coauthor!), on short notice, while chairing the session, and then taking questions to pass on to authors.
Legendary.
But nothing will beat @mkb933.bsky.social GIVING A TALK ON SOMEONE ELSE’S BEHALF (not a coauthor!), on short notice, while chairing the session, and then taking questions to pass on to authors.
Legendary.
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
Proud to be a linguistic chaos gremlin.
The linguistic chaos gremlins have chosen to rawdog the English language itself with their choice of 2024 Word Of The Year
www.avclub.com/american-dia...
www.avclub.com/american-dia...
American Dialect Society once again chooses chaos, names "rawdog" 2024 Word Of The Year
American Dialect Society once again chooses chaos, names "rawdog" 2024 Word Of The Year
www.avclub.com
January 12, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Proud to be a linguistic chaos gremlin.
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
Increased reliance on ChatGPT was associated with higher levels of procrastination and memory loss, and a negative impact on academic performance, as reflected in students’ grade point averages.”
www.psypost.org/chatgpt-link...
www.psypost.org/chatgpt-link...
ChatGPT linked to declining academic performance and memory loss in new study
New research uncovers a concerning trend: while ChatGPT might aid students under academic pressure, its excessive use is linked to procrastination, memory loss, and poorer grades, highlighting a negat...
www.psypost.org
January 13, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Increased reliance on ChatGPT was associated with higher levels of procrastination and memory loss, and a negative impact on academic performance, as reflected in students’ grade point averages.”
www.psypost.org/chatgpt-link...
www.psypost.org/chatgpt-link...
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
"Rawdog" is the 2024 American Dialect Society word of the year. Read the full press release. #WOTY2024 #ADS2025 #LSA2025 americandialect.org/2024-word-of...
2024 Word of the Year Is “Rawdog” - American Dialect Society
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown–Jan. 10—The American Dialect Society, in its 35th annual words-of-the-year vote, selected rawdog as the Word of the Year for 2024. More than three hundred attendees took...
americandialect.org
January 11, 2025 at 5:23 AM
"Rawdog" is the 2024 American Dialect Society word of the year. Read the full press release. #WOTY2024 #ADS2025 #LSA2025 americandialect.org/2024-word-of...
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
A lovely obituary for Bill Labov in the Inquirer.
William Labov, ‘father of sociolinguistics’ who studied the Philadelphia accent, dies at 97
William Labov's work changed whose dialects linguists saw worthy of study and dove into the socioeconomic politics of language. He is considered the father of sociolinguistics.
www.inquirer.com
December 24, 2024 at 12:17 AM
A lovely obituary for Bill Labov in the Inquirer.
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
Vale William Labov.
Inspired by a colleague on X, I think my favourite Bill Labov quote is:
“I have resisted the term *sociolinguistics* for many years, since it implies that there can be a successful linguistic theory or practice which is not social.”
Thank you for everything, Bill.
Inspired by a colleague on X, I think my favourite Bill Labov quote is:
“I have resisted the term *sociolinguistics* for many years, since it implies that there can be a successful linguistic theory or practice which is not social.”
Thank you for everything, Bill.
December 18, 2024 at 9:14 AM
Vale William Labov.
Inspired by a colleague on X, I think my favourite Bill Labov quote is:
“I have resisted the term *sociolinguistics* for many years, since it implies that there can be a successful linguistic theory or practice which is not social.”
Thank you for everything, Bill.
Inspired by a colleague on X, I think my favourite Bill Labov quote is:
“I have resisted the term *sociolinguistics* for many years, since it implies that there can be a successful linguistic theory or practice which is not social.”
Thank you for everything, Bill.
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
Just did a calculation of our lab's time from project conception to publication (e-pub) over the past x years. We're averaging 3.5 years from the first idea to acceptance. About 6-9 months of this is review time. Don't know how typical this is but good reality check esp. for trainees.
December 13, 2024 at 1:29 PM
Just did a calculation of our lab's time from project conception to publication (e-pub) over the past x years. We're averaging 3.5 years from the first idea to acceptance. About 6-9 months of this is review time. Don't know how typical this is but good reality check esp. for trainees.
A student just gave me the best gift and I will treasure it forever 😭🤍
December 10, 2024 at 11:34 PM
A student just gave me the best gift and I will treasure it forever 😭🤍
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
The official motto of experimental linguists anyone?
"Look, you're not getting out of this without wearing some kind of thing on your head, just pick one"
November 24, 2024 at 5:32 PM
The official motto of experimental linguists anyone?
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
I'm excited to share our new study on cross-modal iconicity from our special issue in JASA! We show [r] is rough and [l] is smooth even in languages that conflate them within one phoneme. The effect is even stronger than the bouba/kiki effect!
The alveolar trill is perceived as jagged/rough by speakers of different languages
Typological research shows that across languages, trilled [r] sounds are more common in adjectives describing rough as opposed to smooth surfaces. In this study
doi.org
November 20, 2024 at 2:52 PM
I'm excited to share our new study on cross-modal iconicity from our special issue in JASA! We show [r] is rough and [l] is smooth even in languages that conflate them within one phoneme. The effect is even stronger than the bouba/kiki effect!
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
📊When teaching or giving a talk, do you like presenting plots step by step, revealing e.g. one group at a time? This is often useful for walking through complex results.
I made a R package that makes it extremely easy to do this!
ggreveal: Reveal a ggplot incrementally
#rstats #dataviz #ggplot2
I made a R package that makes it extremely easy to do this!
ggreveal: Reveal a ggplot incrementally
#rstats #dataviz #ggplot2
Reveal a ggplot incrementally
Provides functions that make it easy to reveal ggplot2 graphs incrementally. The functions take a ggplot2 object and return a list of plots showing data incrementally by panels, layers, groups, the va...
www.weverthon.com
July 24, 2024 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Alexandra Pfiffner
One for the syntax folk
🐦🐦
🐦🐦
June 29, 2024 at 4:30 PM
One for the syntax folk
🐦🐦
🐦🐦