Dr Sam Kirkham
Senior LecturerResearch Overview
My research investigates the dynamic interplay between structure and variability in the sound systems of human language. I am fascinated by spoken language because it involves the interaction of many complex systems, including the biology of the vocal tract, the physics of sound, the dynamics of the brain, skilled movement, and the sociocognitive dimensions of language. I am particularly interested in modelling the relationship between vocal tract dynamics (motion) and cognitive systems (mind) using conceptual and mathematical tools from and . This spans a number of topics, including the relationship between high-dimensional phonetic variation and low-dimensional phonology, acoustic-articulatory relations, and sound change. The majority of my work uses a combination of electromagnetic articulography, ultrasound tongue imaging, and computational modelling
I am also associate editor at .
I am currently working on the following projects:
- Modelling the dynamics of phonetic variation & phonological change ( fellowship, 2024-25)
- Targets and dynamics in speech (with , standard grant, 2019-23)
Current Teaching
I am on a fellowship during 2024/25 and not currently teaching.
PhD Supervision Interests
I am interested in supervising students in the following areas: (1) articulatory phonetics / vocal tract imaging / sound change; (2) laboratory phonology / articulatory phonology / task dynamics; (3) computational/mathematical modelling of articulation, sound change, language dynamics, etc; (4) creative approaches to interesting questions in speech research.
01/04/2024 → 30/09/2025
Research
01/10/2022 → ¡
Research
01/09/2019 → 31/08/2022
Research
01/07/2014 → 30/04/2016
Other
01/06/2014 → 31/12/2018
Other
01/10/2009 → 30/09/2012
Research
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition
Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition
Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition
- Phonetics Lab