Research Interests 
Formal phonological theory
Most of my research over the last few years has been conducted in the broad framework of Optimality Theory.
- Non-caterogical phenomena
Most recently, I have been focusing on the question of how to account for non-categorical data in Optimality Theory. This was the basic topic of my recently completed dissertation (UMass with John McCarthy as advisor). I deal with two kinds of non-categorical data in my dissertation: (i) variation, and (ii) psycho-linguistic data (well-formedness judgments, lexical decision reaction times, etc.).
- Formal properties of an Optimality Theoretic grammar
Another research interest is the formal/mathematical properties of an Optimality Theoretic grammar. This research focuses on the empirical results that can be gained from viewing an OT grammar as a mathematical object. Three recent papers on this general topic is available on the ROA. The second chapter of my dissertation is another example of this kind of research.
- About specific languages
I hold an M.A. degree in Semitic Languages from the North-West University in South Africa. My M.A. dissertation dealt with the phonology of the consonant clusters in Tiberian (Biblical) Hebrew. The phonology of the Semitic languages (specifically Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic) continues to be a research interest.
More recently, I have also developed an interest in the phonology of Tswana (a Bantu language spoken in the north western regions of South Africa and in Botswana). I am currently involved in a project with Daan Wissing about the rhythmic properties of Tswana. I am also in the planning stages of a large project on post-nasal phenomena in Tswana. Information on this will be updated as the project develops.
Phonological grammar is one of the factors that influence the manner in which language users process speech. We can therefore use data on tasks such as phoneme identification, lexical decision reaction times, well-formedness ratings, etc. to probe into the structure of grammar. I have conducted several such kinds of experiments over the past few years (and the last chapter of my dissertation also deals with data like these). I am also currently in the planning stages of large project in which I collect data like these from Tswana speakers. Information on this will be updated as the project develops.