4 December: fyi -- phd funding, Edinburgh
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Intuitively, all linguists might agree that a [p] is more similar to a
[b] than either is to a [s] or a [e]; but how can we convert those
intuitions into actual measurements? When speakers say that Irish and
Scottish accents are similar, for instance, what are those judgements
based on, and is it possible to replicate them computationally? There
are already some systems available for making phonetic comparisons
(between accents, for instance, or in speech therapy situations where
we might wish to quantify the distance between the actual and target
pronunciations), but some of these are based on acoustic data while
others use articulatory parameters; and some involve very fine
phonetic detail, while others work on phonemic or even essentially
orthographic representations. Which work better? How could we improve
them? And what else can we use such comparison systems for?
If you are interested in these questions, then you may wish to apply
for our PhD studentship on measuring and comparing phonetic
similarity. You will have, or will soon be expected to obtain a good
Masters degree (or equivalent) in Linguistics, English Language,
Computer Science, or a closely related discipline. The project will
focus on a review and comparison of existing methods of phonetic
similarity matching, with recommendations on the most promising
approaches for applications in language and dialect comparison and
classification. However, you will be able to choose to take a
primarily linguistic, dialectological or computational approach to the
topic, which will allow you to pursue your own research interests in,
for instance, historical linguistics, psycholinguistics, or modelling
applications.
You will be supervised by Prof April McMahon and Dr Simon Kirby in the
department of Linguistics and English Language at the University of
Edinburgh, and will join a vibrant community of researchers in the
language sciences, including a lively research group on Language,
Evolution and Computation with special interests in computer
modelling. The studentship will be held in association with the AHRC
Centre for the Evolution of Cultural Diversity at University College
London (http:// www.cecd.ucl.ac.uk/home/), and there will be funding
available to allow you to travel to the Centre and participate in the
exciting interdisciplinary research being carried out there.
This is an AHRC funded award. Applicants must ensure that they meet
the requirements for AHRC studentships (http://www.ahrc.ac.uk). The
full award will provide an annual stipend of approx £12000 per year
for 3 years, plus University fees for home students: to qualify, you
must show that you have a relevant connection with the UK, usually
through residence. EC nationals who have been in the UK in full time
education for the 3 years prior to the start of the studentship will
also be eligible for a full award. Other EC nationals will be eligible
for a fees-only award.
For informal enquiries: Prof April McMahon, april.mcmahon@ed.ac.uk,
+44 131 651 3081, or Dr Simon Kirby, simon@ling.ed.ac.uk, +44 131 650
3494. For queries about application process: Katie Keltie,
Catherine.Keltie@ed.ac.uk, +44 131 650 3594. Application form
available online at: http:// www.ppls.ed.ac.uk/pg/Funding.htm; under
section 7 of the form, state that you are applying for the AHRC
phonetic comparison studentship. You must also complete a University
of Edinburgh Postgraduate Application Form at:
http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/applications/
forms.html. Deadline: 28 Feb 07. Ideally the project will begin in Sep
07.
Web Address for Applications: http://www.ppls.ed.ac.uk/pg/Funding.htm
Applications are due by: 28-Feb-2007
Contact Information:
Dr Simon Kirby
simon@ling.ed.ac.uk
Phone:+44 (0) 131 650 3494
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