Research Expertise | Department of Linguistics and Modern Language Studies

Hong Kong has been a natural laboratory for conducting research on various language-contact and cross-cultural phenomena. The use of Cantonese in Hong Kong society and schools since the post-war period is unique among Chinese societies. Cantonese-dominant speakers’ learning and use of English, and myriad contact phenomena between Cantonese and English within school premises and in society offer many opportunities for yielding research insights to inform theory-building in various applied and educational linguistics areas.

The vision of the ‘Linguistics and language studies’ research team at EdUHK is to conduct high-quality research on the functioning of human language as a semiotic, meaning-making system, with particular reference to language learning and use in multilingual settings. Collaboration between departments/faculties is strongly encouraged. We aspire to be a major contributor of research insights on language acquisition (English and Putonghua) and inter-cultural communication involving Cantonese, English and (Cantonese-English) mixed code.

Highlight of Our Research

Digital Humanities in Cantonese
Staff Name	Research Interests
Dr CHIN Chi On Andy	Sociolinguistics Corpus linguistics Chinese linguistics Cantonese grammar Linguistic typology
Dr KATAOKA Shin	The history of grammar and phonology Encoding of space and time in language Lexical borrowing in language contact Conceptual metaphors Language and society Toponymy
Dr LAU Chaak Ming	Cantonese Linguistics Sociolinguistics Computer-assisted Lexicography Digital Humanities

Language Learning and Second Language Acquisition
Staff Name	Research Interests
Dr AU Ching Pong	Phonetics and Phonology Contrastive Syntax and Discourse Sociolinguistics Computer-Aided Translation Neural Network Models and Computer Simulation Language Acquisition Change and Evolution Second Language Acquisition
Mr CHEN Charles Chun Jr.	Japanese Linguistics Interlanguage Phonology Second Language Learning Language Classification Translation and Interpretation Washoku Culture
Dr CHEN Hsueh Chu Rebecca	Experimental phonetics Inter-language phonology Intelligibility and accent studies Perception and production Computer assisted pronunciation learning
Dr LEE Kwing Lok Albert	Phonetics Speech prosody Second language acquisition
Dr LUK Pei Sui Zoe	Cognitive approaches to grammar and language acquisition Linguistic relativity Construction grammar
Dr MA Qing Angel	Second language vocabulary acquisition Research methodology Corpus linguistics Computer assisted language learning Mobile assisted language learning
Dr MAK Ho Yan Sabina	Academic discourse socialisation Language teacher belief and cognition Language attitude and identity Second language acquisition Language learning strategies Language teaching pedagogy
Ms MOULIMOIS Alice	French studies
Dr WANG Lixun	General linguistics Corpus linguistics Computer assisted language learning Mobile learning Outcomes-based learning English-Chinese translation studies Multilingual education
Dr XIE Qin	Language testing and assessment Curriculum innovation Second/foreign language learner motivation and learning strategies Structural equation modelling Rasch modelling
Ms YOON Sung Hee	Korean studies and culture

Language in Society
Staff Name	Research Interests
Dr WANG Lixun	General linguistics Corpus linguistics Computer assisted language learning Mobile learning Outcomes-based learning English-Chinese translation studies Multilingual education
Dr LEE Fung King Jackie	English grammar teaching Language and gender Learning study
Dr LEE Kwing Lok Albert	Phonetics Speech prosody Second language acquisition
Dr LIU Fung Ming Christy	Understand translation practitioners in the workplace Translation pedagogy Translation practices
Dr XIE Qin	Language testing and assessment Curriculum innovation Second/foreign language learner motivation and learning strategies Structural equation modelling Rasch modelling
Dr YIP Wai Chi Jesse	Discourse analysis Health communication Identity studies Pragmatics Corpus linguistics

Research Expertise of LML Colleagues

Highlight of Our Research