Derek Denis

New Homepage

2010-12-31T10:11:00.000-08:00

http://individual.utoronto.ca/derekdenis/Site/Derek_Denis.html

If you own the rights to "Toronto Subway" font, the website will look great. If you don't, too bad.

MA Classes finished

2009-04-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

My course work for my MA is now finished. All that's left is to finish up some papers and my thesis.

Here's a list of courses and the papers I've written this year.

1. Adv. Phonology I: Markedness in phonology
Instructor: Keren Rice
Paper: Generalizations about sound change and the constrastive hierarchy: Evidence from West Scandinavian and Inuktitut.

In this paper I attempt to capture some generalizations about phonological changes given the framework of phonology known as "The Toronto School of Contrast." I examined data from Icelandic, Faroese, and Inuktitut.

2. Adv. Syntax I: Agreement
Instructor: Susana Béjar
Paper: Buckie, markedness & rewriting PHI.

Using an idea discussed in Béjar and Hall (1999), in which markedness in morphosyntax is measured by feature geometric shape and a non-connected rule ordering approach, I reexamine data on was/were variation in Buckie English, presented in Adger & Smith (2005, inter alia).

3. Analysis & Argumentation in Linguistics
Instructor: Elan Dresher
Paper: The nature of features in phonology: Arguments from vowel height.

I reexamine the arguments surrounding the binary nature of features contrasting SPE & work by the Prague School with criticisms from McCawley, Schane and Clements & Hume. I argue for a strict binary character in the spirit of Trubetzkoy's "privative oppositions".

4. Adv. Phonology II: Inductive learning
Instructor: Yoonjung Kang
Paper: An empirical test of the gradual learning algorithm: Learning sociolinguistic variation.

Using traditional variationist methodology to examine the distribution of t/d deletion in three generations of a single family, I test the predictive ability of the Gradual Learning Algorithm of Boersma & Hayes (2001) in learning sociolinguistic variation. I suggest that the GLA can not capture significant external factors containing variation and must be thought of a narrow grammar embedded in a broader system akin to Adger's (2007) schema.

5. Seminar on Socio-Syntax
Instructor: Sali Tagliamonte
Paper: Sociosyntactic approaches to variation in agreement: The case of verbal-s.

This paper outlines a framework for working at the sociolinguistic-syntax interface. Using tools of qunatitative variationist linguistics I propose a noval modification to Adger & Smith's (2005) approach to studying intra-speaker variation within the Minimalist Program.

6. Master's forum paper
Advisor: Sali Tagliamonte
Paper: Transmission and diffusion above the level of phonology in Thunder Bay.

Following work by Tagliamonte & Denis (2008) I adapt Labov's (2007) distinction between transmission of change and diffusion of change at the level of morphosyntax. I examine the variation within the deontic modality and quotative systems in a corpus of vernacular speech collected in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

I've also done a number of presentations this year.

1. A framework for sociosyntax.
Presented at Language Variation and Change Research Group, University of Toronto

2. From community to community: Transmission and diffusion in Canadian English. Presented at NWAV 37, Rice University, with Sali Tagliamonte

3. So eh is still Canadian you know?
Presented at 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Dialect Society, San Francisco

4. Lol for real.
Invited lecture HUM199, Language and the Internet, (instructed by Sali Tagliamonte)

Tractatus Logico-Phonologicus

2009-01-15T13:51:00.000-08:00

I am working on a détournement of Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus from a Contrastivist perspective. It should be ready in a few weeks.

My Erdős–Bacon Number

2008-08-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Erdős–Bacon number is a (ridiculous) measure of the small world phenomenon (SWP). It combines the two primary SWP measures of academia and cinema. The former calculates the collaborative distance from Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdős, while the latter considers the distance from Kevin Bacon in terms of roles in movies.

I have an Erdős–Bacon number of 9.

My Erdős number is 4

1. Tagliamonte and Denis (2008) LOL! For Real
2. Sankoff, Tagliamonte, and Smith (2006) Goldvarb X
3. Chvatal and Sankoff (1975) Longest common subsequences of two random sequences
4. Chvatal and Erdős (1972) A note on Hamiltonian circuits

My Bacon number is 5

1. I was in Possum Box with Doug Marks
2. Doug Marks was in Retribution with Daniel Morrison
3. Daniel Morrison was in Degrassi with Kevin Smith
4. Kevin Smith was in Scream 3 with Neve Campbell
5. Neve Campbell was in Wild Things with Kevin Bacon

4 + 5 = 9

What a glorious waste of time!

Art/Music CV

2008-08-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

Installations

Masters of Xor (2009), as romorotoromins (r.o.m.i.n.s. & romo roto) at Studio BLR, Toronto

Chimichonga (2008), as r.o.m.i.n.s. (with doug marks and alex mackenzie) at Rancho Relaxo, Toronto
heretofore untitled (2008), as dick wülf with (fearles and Chris) at Disguises LP Release Event (boiler room), Toronto
ominss (2008), as r.o.m.i.n.s. (with doug marks, alex mackenzie, and dylan doren) at Smiling Buddha, Toronto
Possum Box, LIVE! (2008), as r.o.m.i.n.s. (with doug marks and keran jacobs at Sneaky Dee's, Toronto

Soundscapes

blak hole (2008), as dick wülf with fearles
feardick (2008), as dick wülf with fearles
dickfearfin (2008), as dick wülf with fearles and fin
merry christmas (2007), as r.o.m.i.n.s.
drum flute duet (2007), as r.o.m.i.n.s.
jam session (2007), as r.o.m.i.n.s.
possum box (2007), as r.o.m.i.n.s.
turtle toker (2007), as r.o.m.i.n.s.

Discography

heretofore untitled demo (2008), with Maker.
Six Hours Demo (2008), with Absolut
Derek + Bruce 4 ever (2008), as Ling Long Pagoda
Killed By Canada Vol. 2 (2006), with Saigon Distress Signal, Fans of Bad Production Records
Darkness (2006), with Saigon Distress Signal, Wounded Paw Records
Profane Existence Compilation (2005), with Saigon Distress Signal, Profane Existence Records
Distort Toronto Compilation (2005), with Saigon Distress Signal, Equalizing Distort Records
Demo (2004), with Saigon Distress Signal
Last Resort (2003), with Rebels with A Cause, RWAC Records

Notable Performances

With Maker.
Toronto, May 22, 2009 with Static Thought
Toronto, August 12th, 2008 with Hardcharger

With Saigon Distress Signal
Montreal, January 26th, 2008 with Black Ships at The Black Dot
Toronto, November 9, 2007 with Legion 666, Orn at Smiling Buddha
Montreal, Sept. 21, 2007 with Cobra Noir at La Divine Orange
Toronto, January 15, 2007 with Fucked Up at a house show
Guelph, Dec 5, 2006 with Cobra Noir at Punk-a-Low
St. Catherines, Dec 4 with Cobra Noir at a house show
Toronto, Sept 2006 live-to-air radio performance at CIUT89.5FM
St. Thomas, Sept 2006 with Gunnar Hanson at ?
Montreal, Aug 2006 with Last Days at Bar Fly
Ottawa, Aug 2006 with Experiment in Terror at a community centre
Kingston, Aug 2006 with I Hate Sally at Smijes
Toronto, July 2006 with The Endless Blockade at Planet Kensington
Toronto, May 2006 with The Modern Machines at Smiling Buddha
Ottawa, April 2006 with Walk Aside at Argyle Squat
Toronto, April 2006 with The Holy Mountain at Smiling Buddha
London, Dec 2005 with Dead Radical at Whippet Lounge
Toronto, Dec 2005 with Fuck The Facts at Sneaky Dee's
Toronto, Dec 2005 with Career Suicide at a house show
Toronto, May 2005 with Holy Shit at Adrift Skatepark
Toronto, April 2005 with Career Suicide, Endless Blockade at Adrift Skatepark
Toronto, Feb 2005 with Boulevard Trash at Legends Tavern
Toronto, Oct. 2004 with Bastardizer, Concrete Tank at Q-Bar

With Rebels With A Cause
Caledon, July 2004 with The Decay at Caledon Community Centre
Toronto, May 2004 with Iskra at Reverb
Toronto, Dec 2003 with Action at Tranzac
Toronto, Nov 2003 with Inepsy at Tranzac
Toronto, Feb 2003 with Riot 99 at Kathedral
Toronto, Nov 2002 with Career Suicide at Kathedral
Toronto, Oct 2002 with The Prowlers at Kathedral
Toronto, Aug 2002 with The Hidden at Q-Bar
Mississauga, May 2002 with The Scraps at Masonic Lodge

Academic CV

2008-08-10T17:52:00.000-07:00

Education

Ph.D. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; Linguistics. (2009–)

M.A. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; Linguistics. (2008–2009)
Thesis: Transmission and Diffusion Above The Level of Phonology in Thunder Bay, Ontario
Supervisor: Sali Tagliamonte

Hon. B.A. Victoria University in the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario; specialist in Linguistics, graduate of High Distinction (2003–2008)

Teaching, TAing, Grading

At University of Toronto:
Quantitative Methods in Linguistics, Winter 2011. Instructor Daphna Heller.
Phonetics, Summer 2010. Instructor Milica Radisic.
Quantitative Methods in Linguistics, Winter 2010. Instructor Daphna Heller.
Language & The Internet, Invited Lecture, Winter 2010. Instructor: Sali Taglimonte.
Linguistic Field Methods, Course Technician, Fall 2009. Instructor Keren Rice.
Canadian English, Grader/Invited Lecturer, Fall 2009. Instructor Naomi Nagy.
Canadian English, Grader, Fall 2008. Instructor: Naomi Nagy.
Language & The Internet, Invited Lecture, Winter 2009. Instructor: Sali Taglimonte.

At University of Toronto at Scarborough:
General Linguistics I, Fall 2010. Instructor Chandan Narayan.

Publications

"The stuff of change: General extenders in Toronto, Canada." The Journal of English Linguistics. With Sali Tagliamonte. (2010).

“Linguistic Ruin? LOL. Instant messaging and teen language” American Speech 83(1):3-34. With Sali Tagliamonte. (2008).

Research grants

Joseph-Armand Bombardier, Canada Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. (2009-2012).

Joseph-Armand Bombardier, Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. (2008).

University of Toronto Excellence Award in Humanities and Social Sciences, undergraduate research fellowship, University of Toronto, Toronto Ontario. (2006).

Graduate scholarships and awards

Professor D O Robson Postgraduate Award, Victoria University in the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. (2008).

University of Toronto Graduate Fellowship, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. (2008-present).

Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards (2004-2008)

Professor Jack Chambers Undergraduate Scholarship, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, (2008).

Dr Roseann Runte Award, Victoria University in the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. (2007).

Professor William Kingston and Dr John Kingston Scholarship, Victoria University in the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. (2007).

Professor D O Robson Scholarship, Victoria University in the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. (2006).

Deans List, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008).

Upcoming presentations

"Pro-drop in Heritage Languages: A cross-linguistic study of contact-induced change." NWAV 39. University of Texas - San Antonio. San Antonio, Texas. Nov. 4-6, 2010. With Naomi Nagy, Alex Motut, Dylan Uscher, Nina Aghdasi, and Mario So Gao.

"The Trajectories of General Extenders from a Transatlantic Perspective." NWAV 39. University of Texas - San Antonio, Texas. Nov. 4-6, 2010.

Past presentations

"After acquisition: Variable subject pronoun realization - Heritage language variation and change in Toronto." Generative Approaches to Language Acquisition (GALANA) 4. University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario. Sept. 1-3, 2010. Poster presentation with Naomi Nagy, Alexandra Motut, Dylan Uscher, Nina Aghdasi and Mario So Gao.

"Transmission and diffusion of change: Implications for the homogeneity of Canadian English." 16th Conference of the International Association of World Englishes. Simon Fraser University. Vancouver, British Columbia. July 26, 2010.

"A tale of a few city's and stuff." Change and Variation in Canada IV. Memorial University of Newfoundland. St. John's, Newfoundland. June 19, 2010.

"Asymmetric trajectories: General extenders from a transatlantic perspective." Sociolinguistic Perspectives Summer School. Københavns Universitet, København, Danmark. June 2010.

"Passive diagnostics of contrast in phonology." Montréal-Ottawa-Toronto Phonology Workshop. Carleton University. Ottawa, Ontario. Mar. 2010.

"Coming to grips with grep." Language Variation and Change research group, University of Toronto. Jan. 2010.

"Eh and stuff: Discourse variables in Canadian English." LGCU Welcome Workshop. University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario. Oct. 2009.

"When I got it, I'm like, 'oh, that's what they were talking about!': Transmission and diffusion above the level of phonology in Thunder Bay." Change and Variation in Canada III Conference. York University. Toronto, Ontario. June 2009.

"Operationalizing Labov's Transmission and Diffusion." Language variation and change research group, University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario. May 2009.

"A framework for sociosyntax." Language variation and change research group, University of Toronto. Toronto, Ontario. April 2009. With Lizzie Di Giacomo.

"So eh is still Canadian, right? A quantitative sociolinguistic investigation of changing discourse particles." American Dialect Society. San Francisco, California. January 2009.

"From community to community: Transmission and diffusion in Canadian English." NWAV 37. Rice University, Houston, Texas. November 2008. With Sali Tagliamonte.

“A Variationist Analysis of Modality in Rural Ontario.” LSA Summer Meeting 2008. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. July 2008.

“A New Perspective on Deontic Modality in Canada.” Changement et Variation au Canada II. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario. June, 2008.

“A Phonetic Analysis of The Inuktitut Vowel Space.” Inuktitut Linguistics Workshop. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. March, 2008. With Mark Pollard.
(Brian Dillon, Bill Idsardi, and Colin Philips from University of Maryland have used our data in some learnability work - check it out on Brian's site).

“The Sociolinguistics of Punk.” Toronto Undergraduate Linguistics Conference. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. March 2008.

“The Stuff of Change: General Extenders in North American English,” American Dialect Society Annual Meeting 2008, Chicago, Illinois. January, 2008. With Sali Tagliamonte.

“From “Harrrbour” English to “Hippie” English.” Presentation for Language Variation and Change Research Group. University of Toronto. November, 2007.

“Linguistic Ruin? LOL!” Invited talk at Leaside High School, Toronto, Ontario. November, 2007. With Sali Tagliamonte.

“LOL For Real. Instant Messaging, Teen Language and Linguistic Change,” The 33rd Annual Meeting of The Linguistics Association of Canada and the Unitied States (LACUS33), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. July, 2006. With Sali Tagliamonte.

“OMG, its so PC”. 34th New Ways of Analyzing Variation (NWAV34), New York University, New York City, New York. Oct. 2005. With Sali Tagliamonte.

Manuscripts

"The nature of features in phonology: Arguments from vowel height." University of Toronto, 2009.

"An empirical test of the gradual learning algorithm: Learning sociolinguistic variation." University of Toronto, 2009.

"Sociosyntactic approaches to variation in agreement: The case of verbal-s." University of Toronto, 2009.

"An annotated bibliography of socio-syntax." University of Toronto, 2008. With Ailis Cournane & Lizzie DiGiacomo.

“Buckie, markedness and rewriting phi." University of Toronto, 2008.

"Generalizations about sound change and the contrastive hierarchy: Evidence from Icelandic and Faroese." University of Toronto, 2008.

"Denying connectedness: An optimality theoretic approach to English t/d deletion." University of Toronto, 2008.

Professional Service, Memberships, Committees

President, Linguistic Graduate Course Union, University of Toronto (2009–).

Copy Editor, Toronto Working Papers in Linguistics, University of Toronto (2009–).

Reviewer, Language Variation and Change (2010-).

Reviewer, Language@Internet (2010-).

Computer Committee, Department of Linguistics, University of Toronto (2008–).

Linguistics Newsletter Committee, University of Toronto, (2008–).

Change and Variation in Canada Steering Committee, (2008–).

Toronto Undergraduate Linguistics Conference Organizing Committee, University of Toronto. 2008.

Linguistics Society of America, (2008–).

American Dialect Society, (2007–).

CVC 2007 Organizing Committee, University of Toronto, 2007.

Language Variation and Change Reading/Research Group, University of Toronto, (2006–).

Syntax Reading Group, University of Toronto, (2008–).

Phonology Reading Group, University of Toronto, (2008–).

Media

Audio Documentaries
1337 Speak! OMG!, Dec. 2008

Radio
CBC Syndicated morning shows, cross-Canada, May 2008
AM800, Windsor, May 2008
CFLS, The Open Line, Owen Sound, May 2008
CBC Radio 1, Toronto, May 2008
CBC Radio 1, Toronto, May 2008
Triple J Radio Australia, May 2008
Melbourne Morning Radio Show, May 2008
Morning Show, CHQY, January 2008
Take5, CIUT89.5FM, July 2007
Beyond The Class Room, CIUT89.5FM, August 2006
Windsor Now, CKLW AM 800, August 2006
Shauna Rae Show, CJBK 1290, August 2006
CBC Calgary, August 2006
CBC Sydney, August 2006
CBC Saint John, August 2006
CBC Edmonton, August 2006
CBC Vancouver, August 2006
CBC Victoria, August 2006
CBC Yellowknife, August 2006
CBC Windsor, August 2006
CBC Regina, August 2006
CBC Whitehorse, August 2006
CBC Quebec City, August 2006

Television
Global National, May 2008, with Sali Tagliamonte
Associated Press (World), May 2008, with Sali Tagliamonte
Mandarin Weekend, OMNI-TV, August 2006
CBC Newsworld, August 2006, with Sali Tagliamonte

Print
University of Toronto Faculty of Arts and Science Year in Review 2008
New York Times, May 2008
Boston Globe, May 2008
New Scientist, May 2008
Toronto Star, August 1st, 2006
Toronto Sun, July 31st, 2006
Globe and Mail, July 31st, 2006
National Post, July 31st, 2006
plus dozens of other international newspapers, blogs, and magazines

CV Updated: September 6 2010