In my work, I combine the study of the formal properties of the meaning of words and morphemes with the study of what humans do when using these expressions in everyday life — that is, the practices whereby we exchange information, build common ground and negotiate social relationships.

I have been pursuing this goal by developing an interdisciplinary approach. Specifically, I strive to integrate methods and insights from different subfields of linguistics, such as semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and psycholinguistics; I’m likewise committed to enriching my scientific perspective on the study of language by incorporating ideas and approaches from the neighboring disciplines of psychology, philosophy and anthropology.

My research focuses on a variety of phenomena, including: intensification and imprecision; subjective predicates; discourse particles; alternative questions. I have additional interests in language processing, and language change.  See the Papers page for a list of presentations and publications on these topics.