Home Department: Linguistics
SLAT Areas of Specialization: Cognitive Dimensions of L2 Learning, Linguistic Dimensions of L2 Learning
Dr. Carnie is a Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Linguistics and has appointments in the Cognitive Science Program, the Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching and the Joint Program in Linguistics and Anthropology.
His research revolves around various topics within the Minimalist Principles and Parameters approach to syntactic theory including phrase structure, copular constructions, case theory, word order (especially verb initial languages). These past 4 years he has been leading a team investigating the syntax, phonology and phonetics of Modern Scottish Gaelic. He is the author of numerous articles and 9 books. In his off hours, he's usually off doing international folk dancing or square dancing.
Research Interests: Chomskyan syntax, semantics, phrase structure, constituent structure, copular constructions, ergativity, argument hierarchies, VSO order, prediction theory, experimental phonology and phonetics, and the Celtic languages (Irish and Scottish Gaelic in particular).