Research interests
.) Phonetic and phonological acquisition in bilingual children and adults
.) Second-language speech perception and production
.) Language contact
.) First language attrition of speech
.) Normal and disordered speech
My research is interested in understanding speech development in bilinguals and multilinguals across the lifespan, with a focus on the phonetic and phonological aspects of first and second language acquisition, first language attrition, and atypical development. It focuses on speech perception and production, and uses a number of behavioural measures, including acoustic methods of analysis and psycholinguistic experimentation.
Main external collaborators
Prof Ineke Mennen, Karl Franzens Universität Graz, Austria
Prof Simona Montanari, California State University, Los Angeles, USA
Dr Jonathan Morris, Cardiff University, UK
Grants
2022 – 2025 (Awarded) Speech, Language and Communication Identification, Intervention and Evaluation Package (Co-applicant with Dr Yvonne Wren (PI), Jenna Charlton, Prof Caroline Floccia, Louisa Reeves, Prof Cristina McKean, Carol Payne, Vicky Gilroy, Dr Toity Deave, Dr Nayeli Gonzalez-Gomez, Dr Sam Harding, Robert Rush, Prof Martin Ball, Sheena Reilly, Dr Rhonwen Lewis & Prof Susan Roulstone). Welsh Government (~£1.5 million)
2022 – 2023 (Awarded) Ultrasound and laryngograph microprocessor (Co-applicant, with Yvonne Wren (PI). Sêr Cymru – Enhancing Competitiveness Equipment Award (£24,277)
2022 - 2023 (Awarded) Are non-native Welsh speakers being discriminated against? An experimental study into social perceptions of Welsh accents. (PI, with Dr Jonathan Morris). R&I Accelerator Grant (£9,488)
2022 – 2023 (Awarded) Exploring access to Speech and Language Therapy for Welsh speaking survivors of stroke (Oct 2022-June 2023, Co-applicant with Williams, C. (PI), Wren, Y., Seckam, A. & Broomfield, K.) Stroke Association (~ £30,000)
2021 – 2022 (Awarded) Evidence review of universal, population and targeted interventions which support speech, language and communication (SLC) development in the early years (Consultant, with Dr Yvonne Wren (PI), Dr Rhonwen Lewis, Prof Susan Roulstone, Dr Sam Harding, Prof Cristina McKean, Ms Alison Williams) Welsh Government tender (Children and Families Division)(£28,898)
2021 – 2024 (Awarded) Speech Sound Perception and Production in Spanish/English Bilingual Preschoolers (Consultant, with Prof Simona Montanari (PI)) National Institutes of Health (NIH) R15 Grant
(US $438,000)
2021 (Awarded) A review of early language screening tools suitable for children in Wales (Consultant, with Dr Yvonne Wren (PI), Dr Rhonwen Lewis (consultant), Prof Susan Roulstone (consultant)) Welsh Government tender (Children and Families Division) (£25,560.96)
2021– 2024 (Awarded) Gwerthusiad cymdeithasol o acenion Cymraeg [Social evaluation of Welsh accents] (Co-supervisor, with Dr Jonathan Morris and Dr Rees Iwan), Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, PhD Studentship
(ca. £55,000)
2020 – 2025 (Awarded) Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, Subject Grant: 75% of two full-time Welsh-medium lecturer posts in Speech and Language Therapy, Centre for Speech and Language Therapy and Hearing Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University (£240,000)
2020 – 2025 (Awarded) Research Capacity Building Collaboration (RCBC) Wales
(Co-applicant with Prof Joyce Kenkre, Dr Gina Dolan, Dr Roiyah Saltus, Ms Marina McDonald, Dr Louise Bright, Mr Henry Yeomans, Dr Sion Williams, Prof Daniel Kelly, Dr Paul Gill, Prof Jaynie Rance, Dr Joanne Pike; PI: Prof Martin Stegall. Health and Care Research Wales: Research Development Infrastructure Grant (£996,157)
2020-2023 (Awarded) When your native language sounds foreign: Characterising foreign accent in first language attrition. (Co-applicant with Prof Ineke Mennen (PI), University of Graz, Austria), FWF [Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Austria] Stand-alone Project Grant (€398,436.53)
2019 (Awarded) How does stroke affect functional language use and identity in bilinguals? An exploratory study of Welsh-English bilinguals with aphasia.(PI, with Dr Delyth James, Dr Abdul Seckam, Ms Katie Earing, Dr Harry Bowles (co-applicants))R + I Pilot Fund, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University (HRRI47) (£4,545)
2015-2020 (Awarded) Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, Subject Grant: 75% of two full-time Welsh-medium lecturer posts in Speech and Language Therapy, Centre for Speech and Language Therapy and Hearing Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University (£140,000)
2017 (Awarded) Karl-Franzens Universität Graz, Anbahnungsfinanzierung/ pump priming grant : When your native language sounds foreign: Characterising foreign accent in L1 attrition, (PI: Ineke Mennen; Co-applicant: Robert Mayr) (€ 12,000)
2012-2014 (Awarded) British Academy Small Research Grant (SG111947): Socio-phonetic variation in a language contact situation: The case of Welsh and Welsh English, (PI: Robert Mayr; co-applicant: Ineke Mennen, Bangor University); (£7,533.80)
2010- 2014 (Awarded) Early phonological development in Welsh-English bilingual children: A longitudinal study. Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol PhD Scholarship (ca. £65,000)
2007 (Awarded) An acoustic and articulatory investigation of the NURSE vowel in South Wales English. (PI, with Dr Torsten Müller, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany) Small Research Grant, Cardiff School of Health Sciences (£670)
Current PhD students
1. Jiayang Li (PhD): Speech development in Cantonese-Mandarin bilingual children with cochlear implants
2. Nadeem Mahafza (PhD): The effectiveness of Tinnitus Sound Therapy (T-MIST) in tinnitus patients with sensorineural hearing loss: a randomised control trial.
3. Nia Eyre (PhD, Supervisor, with Dr Jonathan Morris and Dr Rees Iwan, Cardiff University): Gwerthusiad cymdeithasol o acenion Cymraeg [Social evaluation of Welsh accents].
Previous doctoral students/ Completions
Sarah Patten (PhD): Speech perception assessments with deaf/ hearing impaired clients: an investigation
into their efficacy as a clinical tool. Completed 2018.
Rhonwen Lewis (PhD): Early phonological development in Welsh-English bilingual children: typical and atypical patterns. Completed 2022
Craig Howard (EdD): “Good moaning!” – A study of PGCE MFL students’ attitudes to pronunciation and its development during the PGCE course. Posthumous award 2022.
Research Degree Examinations
.) External Assessor (PhD), Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL). Christoforos Souganidis: Phonetic detail of voicing categories in Basque-Spanish bilinguals: Evidence from production and perception, 2023
.) External Examiner (PhD), University of Edinburgh. Candice Mathers: The Role of Language Phonotactics and Bilingual Status on the Development of Phonemic Awareness Skills in Young Children Acquiring Literacy, 2022
.) Internal Examiner (PhD), Cardiff Metropolitan University. Teri Howells: Developing practical tools for measuring cognitive control and asociality in clinical settings, 2022
.) External Examiner (PhD), Lancaster University. Bahar Aksu: The Influence of L1 Turkish Regional Dialects on L2 English Speech Production, 2022
.) External Examiner (PhD), Bangor University. Carla Owen: An exploration of the potential markers of literacy difficulties in Welsh-English bilinguals. 2021
.) External Examiner (MA by Research), University of Leeds. Eskarina Yeates: Voicing of ‘voiced’ and ‘voiceless’ fricatives in Welsh and Welsh English. 2021
.) External Examiner (PhD), University of Graz, Austria. Lisa Kornder: Arnold Schwarzenegger now and then: A longitudinal case study of Schwarzenegger’s English and German pronunciation.2020
.) External Examiner, PhD, Bangor University, Amirah Alharbi: 'First language attrition and second language acquisition: Exploring the role of phonetic aptitude and language use in highly proficient late Arabic-English and English-Arabic bilinguals, July 2019.
.) External Examiner, PhD, MARCS Institute, University of Western Sydney, Jaydene Elvin: ‘How the native language shapes individual differences in non-native perception and spoken word recognition: English vs Spanish learners of Portuguese,’ May 2016.
.) External Examiner, PhD, Sheffield University, Anne Schroeter: ‘An empirical investigation of pronunciation problems of young learners of English as a foreign language: Identification and remedial strategies,’ May 2015.
.) External Referee, Senior Doctorate by published works (DLitt), Bangor University, July 2014.
.) External Examiner, PhD, Sheffield University, Daniel Williams: ‘Cross-language acoustic and perceptual similarity of vowels: The role of listeners’ native accent,’ February 2013.
.) Phonetic and phonological acquisition in bilingual children and adults
.) Second-language speech perception and production
.) Language contact
.) First language attrition of speech
.) Normal and disordered speech
My research is interested in understanding speech development in bilinguals and multilinguals across the lifespan, with a focus on the phonetic and phonological aspects of first and second language acquisition, first language attrition, and atypical development. It focuses on speech perception and production, and uses a number of behavioural measures, including acoustic methods of analysis and psycholinguistic experimentation.
Main external collaborators
Prof Ineke Mennen, Karl Franzens Universität Graz, Austria
Prof Simona Montanari, California State University, Los Angeles, USA
Dr Jonathan Morris, Cardiff University, UK
Grants
2022 – 2025 (Awarded) Speech, Language and Communication Identification, Intervention and Evaluation Package (Co-applicant with Dr Yvonne Wren (PI), Jenna Charlton, Prof Caroline Floccia, Louisa Reeves, Prof Cristina McKean, Carol Payne, Vicky Gilroy, Dr Toity Deave, Dr Nayeli Gonzalez-Gomez, Dr Sam Harding, Robert Rush, Prof Martin Ball, Sheena Reilly, Dr Rhonwen Lewis & Prof Susan Roulstone). Welsh Government (~£1.5 million)
2022 – 2023 (Awarded) Ultrasound and laryngograph microprocessor (Co-applicant, with Yvonne Wren (PI). Sêr Cymru – Enhancing Competitiveness Equipment Award (£24,277)
2022 - 2023 (Awarded) Are non-native Welsh speakers being discriminated against? An experimental study into social perceptions of Welsh accents. (PI, with Dr Jonathan Morris). R&I Accelerator Grant (£9,488)
2022 – 2023 (Awarded) Exploring access to Speech and Language Therapy for Welsh speaking survivors of stroke (Oct 2022-June 2023, Co-applicant with Williams, C. (PI), Wren, Y., Seckam, A. & Broomfield, K.) Stroke Association (~ £30,000)
2021 – 2022 (Awarded) Evidence review of universal, population and targeted interventions which support speech, language and communication (SLC) development in the early years (Consultant, with Dr Yvonne Wren (PI), Dr Rhonwen Lewis, Prof Susan Roulstone, Dr Sam Harding, Prof Cristina McKean, Ms Alison Williams) Welsh Government tender (Children and Families Division)(£28,898)
2021 – 2024 (Awarded) Speech Sound Perception and Production in Spanish/English Bilingual Preschoolers (Consultant, with Prof Simona Montanari (PI)) National Institutes of Health (NIH) R15 Grant
(US $438,000)
2021 (Awarded) A review of early language screening tools suitable for children in Wales (Consultant, with Dr Yvonne Wren (PI), Dr Rhonwen Lewis (consultant), Prof Susan Roulstone (consultant)) Welsh Government tender (Children and Families Division) (£25,560.96)
2021– 2024 (Awarded) Gwerthusiad cymdeithasol o acenion Cymraeg [Social evaluation of Welsh accents] (Co-supervisor, with Dr Jonathan Morris and Dr Rees Iwan), Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, PhD Studentship
(ca. £55,000)
2020 – 2025 (Awarded) Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, Subject Grant: 75% of two full-time Welsh-medium lecturer posts in Speech and Language Therapy, Centre for Speech and Language Therapy and Hearing Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University (£240,000)
2020 – 2025 (Awarded) Research Capacity Building Collaboration (RCBC) Wales
(Co-applicant with Prof Joyce Kenkre, Dr Gina Dolan, Dr Roiyah Saltus, Ms Marina McDonald, Dr Louise Bright, Mr Henry Yeomans, Dr Sion Williams, Prof Daniel Kelly, Dr Paul Gill, Prof Jaynie Rance, Dr Joanne Pike; PI: Prof Martin Stegall. Health and Care Research Wales: Research Development Infrastructure Grant (£996,157)
2020-2023 (Awarded) When your native language sounds foreign: Characterising foreign accent in first language attrition. (Co-applicant with Prof Ineke Mennen (PI), University of Graz, Austria), FWF [Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Austria] Stand-alone Project Grant (€398,436.53)
2019 (Awarded) How does stroke affect functional language use and identity in bilinguals? An exploratory study of Welsh-English bilinguals with aphasia.(PI, with Dr Delyth James, Dr Abdul Seckam, Ms Katie Earing, Dr Harry Bowles (co-applicants))R + I Pilot Fund, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University (HRRI47) (£4,545)
2015-2020 (Awarded) Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, Subject Grant: 75% of two full-time Welsh-medium lecturer posts in Speech and Language Therapy, Centre for Speech and Language Therapy and Hearing Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University (£140,000)
2017 (Awarded) Karl-Franzens Universität Graz, Anbahnungsfinanzierung/ pump priming grant : When your native language sounds foreign: Characterising foreign accent in L1 attrition, (PI: Ineke Mennen; Co-applicant: Robert Mayr) (€ 12,000)
2012-2014 (Awarded) British Academy Small Research Grant (SG111947): Socio-phonetic variation in a language contact situation: The case of Welsh and Welsh English, (PI: Robert Mayr; co-applicant: Ineke Mennen, Bangor University); (£7,533.80)
2010- 2014 (Awarded) Early phonological development in Welsh-English bilingual children: A longitudinal study. Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol PhD Scholarship (ca. £65,000)
2007 (Awarded) An acoustic and articulatory investigation of the NURSE vowel in South Wales English. (PI, with Dr Torsten Müller, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany) Small Research Grant, Cardiff School of Health Sciences (£670)
Current PhD students
1. Jiayang Li (PhD): Speech development in Cantonese-Mandarin bilingual children with cochlear implants
2. Nadeem Mahafza (PhD): The effectiveness of Tinnitus Sound Therapy (T-MIST) in tinnitus patients with sensorineural hearing loss: a randomised control trial.
3. Nia Eyre (PhD, Supervisor, with Dr Jonathan Morris and Dr Rees Iwan, Cardiff University): Gwerthusiad cymdeithasol o acenion Cymraeg [Social evaluation of Welsh accents].
Previous doctoral students/ Completions
Sarah Patten (PhD): Speech perception assessments with deaf/ hearing impaired clients: an investigation
into their efficacy as a clinical tool. Completed 2018.
Rhonwen Lewis (PhD): Early phonological development in Welsh-English bilingual children: typical and atypical patterns. Completed 2022
Craig Howard (EdD): “Good moaning!” – A study of PGCE MFL students’ attitudes to pronunciation and its development during the PGCE course. Posthumous award 2022.
Research Degree Examinations
.) External Assessor (PhD), Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL). Christoforos Souganidis: Phonetic detail of voicing categories in Basque-Spanish bilinguals: Evidence from production and perception, 2023
.) External Examiner (PhD), University of Edinburgh. Candice Mathers: The Role of Language Phonotactics and Bilingual Status on the Development of Phonemic Awareness Skills in Young Children Acquiring Literacy, 2022
.) Internal Examiner (PhD), Cardiff Metropolitan University. Teri Howells: Developing practical tools for measuring cognitive control and asociality in clinical settings, 2022
.) External Examiner (PhD), Lancaster University. Bahar Aksu: The Influence of L1 Turkish Regional Dialects on L2 English Speech Production, 2022
.) External Examiner (PhD), Bangor University. Carla Owen: An exploration of the potential markers of literacy difficulties in Welsh-English bilinguals. 2021
.) External Examiner (MA by Research), University of Leeds. Eskarina Yeates: Voicing of ‘voiced’ and ‘voiceless’ fricatives in Welsh and Welsh English. 2021
.) External Examiner (PhD), University of Graz, Austria. Lisa Kornder: Arnold Schwarzenegger now and then: A longitudinal case study of Schwarzenegger’s English and German pronunciation.2020
.) External Examiner, PhD, Bangor University, Amirah Alharbi: 'First language attrition and second language acquisition: Exploring the role of phonetic aptitude and language use in highly proficient late Arabic-English and English-Arabic bilinguals, July 2019.
.) External Examiner, PhD, MARCS Institute, University of Western Sydney, Jaydene Elvin: ‘How the native language shapes individual differences in non-native perception and spoken word recognition: English vs Spanish learners of Portuguese,’ May 2016.
.) External Examiner, PhD, Sheffield University, Anne Schroeter: ‘An empirical investigation of pronunciation problems of young learners of English as a foreign language: Identification and remedial strategies,’ May 2015.
.) External Referee, Senior Doctorate by published works (DLitt), Bangor University, July 2014.
.) External Examiner, PhD, Sheffield University, Daniel Williams: ‘Cross-language acoustic and perceptual similarity of vowels: The role of listeners’ native accent,’ February 2013.