My research interests lie in phonetics and phonology. More specifically, my research focuses on laboratory phonology, phonological representations, and sociophonetic variability. Disentangling surface forms (the sounds we produce) from abstract forms (how they are represented in the brain) has always been a primary goal for phonological theories, but finding appropriate methods to test these questions is challenging. I use a combination of phonological phonetic, and perception data to better understand what abstract representations of sound consist of, how these representations are produced acoustically, and how speakers move between different levels of representation. I am also interested in how acoustic variability in pronunciation both reflects and contributes to forming abstract sound categories. I have worked primarily with varieties of Spanish (Sevillian, Uruguayan) and Brazilian Portuguese.
For my CV and a full list of my past and ongoing research, please see my personal website.
Research
- Phonetics and phonology
- Laboratory phonology (production and perception)
- Sociolinguistic variability
- Acoustics
- Metathesis and other phonological processes
Frequently Taught Courses
Selected Publications
Accepted. Gilbert, M. Metathesis, syllable weight and stress in Sevillian Spanish. Phonology.
2023. Gilbert, M. Testing for underlying representations: Segments and clusters in Sevillian Spanish. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory 42(2), 493-531. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11049-023-09575-4 (PDF view-only, Springer)
2023. Gilbert, M. Conflicting standards and variability: Spirantization in two varieties of Uruguayan Spanish. Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics 16(2), 397-446. https://doi.org/10.1515/shll-2023-2015 (Lingbuzz preprint)
2021. Gilbert, M. Acoustic evidence for affix classes: A case study of Brazilian Portuguese. Glossa: A Journal of General Linguistics 6(1), 1-38. http://doi.org/10.5334/gjgl.1045
Education
PhD in Linguistics, New York University (2022)
BA in Spanish, Middlebury College (2014), with minors in Italian and Linguistics
