Curriculum Vitae

 

                              Brett Joseph Baker

DOB:                  6th of October 1967

Citizenship:     Australian

Marital status: Married

Position:            Tenured Senior Lecturer (Level C)

                              School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences

                              University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351

Phone:                (+61 2) 6773 3220 (work)

                              (+61 2) 9773 3189 (admin)

Fax:                     (+61 2) 6773 3748

E-mail:               brett.baker@une.edu.au

 

Education

1999                   PhD, Dept of Linguistics, University of Sydney.

1996-7               Visiting PhD student, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA.

1992                   BA Honours (1st Class), Dept of Linguistics, University of Sydney.

 

Publications

Books

2008. Word Structure in Ngalakgan. CSLI: Stanford CA.

Forthcoming a, with Ilana Mushin (eds.). Discourse and grammar in Australian languages. John Benjamins.

Forthcoming b, with Mengistu Amberber and Mark Harvey. Complex predicates in cross-linguistic perspective. Cambridge UP.

 

Articles in refereed journals and book chapters

Forthcoming a       'The interpretation of complex nominal expressions in Southeast Arnhem Land languages'. In Ilana Mushin and Brett Baker (eds.) Discourse and grammar in Australian languages. Benjamins.

Forthcoming b       'Australian perspectives on discourse and grammar.' In Ilana Mushin and Brett Baker (eds.) Discourse and grammar in Australian languages. Benjamins.

2007                   'Ethnoclassification and the environment in Northern Australia.' In Schalley, Andrea C. and Khlentzos, Drew (eds.): 'Mental states, vol. 2: Language and cognitive structure'. [Studies in Language Companion Series 93.] Benjamins. Pp. 239-265.

2007                   (With Mengistu Amberber and Mark Harvey) 'Complex predication and the coverb construction.' In Siegel, Jeff, Lynch, John and Eades, Diana (eds.): Language Description, History and Development: Linguistic Indulgence in Memory of Terry Crowley. Pp. 209-219. John Benjamins.

2005                   (with Mark Harvey) 'Vowel harmony, directionality and morpheme structure constraints in Warlpiri.' Lingua. Vol 115/10: 1457-1474.

2003                   (with Diana Eades, Helen Fraser, Jeff Siegel, and Tim McNamara) 'Linguistic identification in the determination of nationality: A preliminary report'. Language Policy 2(2): 179-199.

2003                   (with Mark Harvey) ÔWord structure in Australian languages.Õ Australian Journal of Linguistics 23, 1. 3-34.

2002                   ÔHow referential is agreement? The interpretation of polysynthetic agreement morphology in Ngalakgan.Õ In Nicholas Evans and Hans-JŸrgen Sasse (eds) Problems of Polysynthesis [Studia Typologica 4], 51-86. Akademie Verlag: Berlin.

2002                   ÔIÕm going to Where-her-brisket-is: placenames in the Roper.Õ In Luise Hercus, Flavia Hodges, and Jane Simpson (eds) The Land is a Map: Placenames of indigenous origin in Australia. Pandanus Books/Pacific Linguistics: Canberra. 103-130.

2000                   ÔGeminate dissimilation as prosody in Ngalakgan.Õ In Robert Pensalfini and Norvin Richards (eds.) Papers on Australian Languages. MIT Working Papers in Endangered and Less-Familiar Languages 2. MIT Dept of Linguistics: Cambridge MA.

 

Papers in refereed conference proceedings

2005                   'The domain of phonological processes.' In Ilana Mushin (ed.) Proceedings of the 2004 Conference of the Australian Linguistics Society. http://dspace.library.usyd.edu.au:8080/handle/123456789/97.

2004                   ÔStem forms and paradigm reshaping in Gunwinyguan.Õ In Claire Bowern and Harold Koch (eds) Australian Languages: Classification and the comparative method. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. 313-340.

2000                   ÔEdge-Crispness in moraic structure.Õ In Matthew L. Juge and Jeri L. Moxley (eds.) Proceedings of the Berkeley Linguistics Society 23rd annual meeting, Spring 1997. Berkeley Linguistics Society: Berkeley CA. 2-13.

1998                   ÔEdge-Crispness: segment to mora isomorphism.Õ In Emily Curtis, James Lyle and Gabriel Webster (eds.) Proceedings of the West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics XVI, Spring 1997. CSLI: Stanford CA. 33-47.

1998                   ÔA dictionary database template for Australian languagesÕ (with Christopher Manning). In Proceedings of Australex 1998, http://www.anu.edu.au/linguistics/alex/a98/.

 

Reviews

2004                   Nicholas Evans. 2003. Bininj Gun-wok. (2 volumes.) Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. Oceania 75, 2: 153-154.

1998                   Patrick McConvell and Nicholas Evans, 1997, Archaeology and Linguistics. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. Oceania 68, 4: 304-307.

1994                   John Myhill, 1992, Typological Discourse Analysis: Quantitative Approaches to the Study of Linguistic Function. Australian Journal of Linguistics (1994) 14:1 pp. 109-113.

 

Selected recent conference presentations, invited papers and manuscripts

2007                   Complex predicate formation. Linguistic Society of America annual conference, Anaheim CA.

2005                   (With Mark Harvey). Coronal place. MS, UNE and University of Newcastle, (Australia).

2004                   'Categorisation and reference in Northern Australian languages.' International Language and Cognition Conference, Coffs Harbour, Australia.

2004                   'The domain of phonological processes.' Australian Linguistics Society annual conference, Sydney.

2004                   'The interpretation of complex nominal expressions in two Northern languages.' Paper presented at the annual Australianists' workshop, Blackwood VIC.

2003                   ÔThe AudioText Linking ToolÕ, PARADISEC workshop, Sydney.

2003                   ÔVowel harmony and directionality in Warlpiri.Õ Australian Linguistics Society annual conference, Newcastle.

2002                   ÔLanguage without rules: an introduction to Optimality Theory.Õ Language and Cognition Group, School of Psychology, UNE.

2002                   ÔCoronal place features,Õ Australian Linguistics Society annual conference, Sydney.

2001                   ÔWord structure in Australian languages,Õ Australian Linguistics Society annual conference, Canberra.

2001                   ÔEvidence for the sub-group Ngalakgan-Rembarrnga within Gunwinyguan,Õ International Conference on Historical Linguistics, Melbourne.

1997                   ÔAnti-moraic geminates in Ngalakgan,Õ Dept of Linguistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge and Dept of Linguistics, State University of New York, Buffalo.

1997                   ÔNoun Class marking, pragmatics and non-agreement in Ngalakgan,Õ Dept of Linguistics, State University of New York, Buffalo.

1997                   ÔGeminate dissimilation as prosody in Ngalakgan,Õ Australian Linguistics Circle meeting, MIT.

1997                   ÔProminence and weight in Ngalakgan prosody,Õ Australian Linguistics Society conference, UNE Armidale.

1997                   ÔEdge-Crispness: segment to mora isomorphism,Õ West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics XVI.

1997                   ÔEdge-Crispness in moraic structure,Õ Berkeley Linguistics Society 23rd annual meeting.

Research experience

2005                   ARC Discovery (with Mark Harvey and Mengistu Amberber) 'Verbs and coverbs: a cross-linguistic re-analysis of part-of-speech categories': $110,000 over 3 years.

2005                   UNE University Research Grant ($10 000): Aboriginal plant use: linguistic and ethno-pharmacological aspects. (Continuation of 2004 grant.)

2004                   UNE University Research Grant ($15 000): Aboriginal plant use: linguistic and ethno-pharmacological aspects.

2003                   UNE Internal Research Grant ($4000) + $7000 ProVC's discretionary fund: AudioText Linking Tool. In association with a programmer, developed an electronic tool for archiving, searching and playing linked audio and transcription files.

1999-2002       Australian Research Council (Industry) Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Sydney (in collaboration with the Katherine Language Centre) ÔSpoken Indigenous Interaction: Research and ApplicationÕ.

1999                   Grantee, AIATSIS grant ÔSpoken NgandiÕ.

1998-1999       Research Assistant, ARC grant to Jane Simpson and Chris Manning ÔTransforming the representation of lexical knowledge.Õ

1996-1997       Visiting Student, Dept of Linguistics, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USA.

1995-1996       Grantee, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) grant (L95/4932) ÔNgalakgan dictionary.Õ

1995-1996       Research Assistant, Australian Research Council grant to Toni Borowsky, Jane Simpson and Mark Harvey. ÔThe status of the Word in Australian languages.Õ

1994-1995       Principal researcher for the AIATSIS Grant 93/4657 Handbook of Top End Languages: a comprehensive database on languages of the Top End.

 

Teaching experience

LING360/460 'Generative syntax', LING307 'Applied Linguistics and second language learning', LING306/464 'Acquisition of language and literacy', LING330 'Language in multilingual societies', LING450 'Design of language', LING101/102 'Introduction to and Foundations of Linguistics', LING313 'Morphology and syntax', LING380 'Languages of Asia', LING368/468 ÔFormal phonologyÕ

 

Collegiate Activities

2007                   Chair, School of BCSS Research and Postgraduate Committee

2007                   Deputy director, Language and Cognition Research Centre

2006                   Convenor of Linguistics

2004-5               Member, LCL School Research Committee

2004-5               School Postgraduate Coordinator

2004                   Member, School Teaching and Learning Committee

2005                   Chair, School Technical Advisory Committee and organiser of the TLC Faculty Grant to LCL 'Audio over the web'

2004                   Member, organising committee for the 2006 Australian Linguistics Institute, UNE (at UQ Brisbane)

2003                   Member, organising committee for the 2004 International Language and Cognition Conference, UNE

2001-2002       One of three principal organisers for the 2002 Indigenous Languages Program, and member of the organising committee for the 2002 Australian Linguistics Institute

Students supervised

Jen Munro. PhD. 2004. 'Substrate language influence in Kriol: the application of transfer constraints to language contact in Northern Australia.' (Co-supervisor, with Jeff Siegel.)

Sophie Nicholls. 2005- . PhD. Discourse in Ngukurr.

Gavin Austin. 2005- . PhD. The acquisition of definiteness by second language learners of English.

Gerry Biemers. 2005- PhD. A grammar of Solomon Islands Pijin. (Co-supervisor, with Jeff Siegel.)

Cindy Schneider. 2004-2007. PhD. A grammar of Abma, Vanuatu. (Co-supervisor, with Jeff Siegel.)

Anne MacDonald. Hons. 2006 'Ethnobotanical classification in Australian English.'

Other professional experience

2001                   Linguistic Consultant, Central Land Council. Transcribed and databased the fieldnotes of A.P. Elkin: anthropological and linguistic materials from SA 1930.

2001                   Linguistic Consultant, Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority. Conducted field research and prepared a report on sacred sites of the Roper Bar, Mt McMinn, and lower Hodgson river areas of the NT.

1998                   Linguistic Consultant, Northern Land Council. Participated in the preparation of two native title claims in the Roper river region.

1998                   Researcher, Aboriginal Legal Services and Land Councils: NSW, SA, WA. Transcribed the fieldnotes of A.R. Radcliffe-Brown: anthropological and linguistic materials from c. 1916-c. 1930.

 


Referees

Prof Cliff Goddard

Professor, School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics

University of New England, NSW 2351

Ph: 02 6773 3309, Fax: 02 6773 3735

cgoddard@une.edu.au

 

Dr Jane Simpson

Senior lecturer, Dept of Linguistics

University of Sydney, NSW 2006

Ph: 02 9351 3655; Fax: 02 9351 7572

jhs@mail.usyd.edu.au

 

Dr Mark Harvey

Lecturer, School of Language and Media

University of Newcastle, NSW 2308

Currently on leave at:

Dept of Linguistics, University of Sydney 2006

Ph: 0417 215 157; Fax: 02 9351 7572

mark.harvey@newcastle.edu.au