I (she/her/hers) am a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate (ABD status) in Theoretical Linguistics and Cognitive Science at Georgetown University.
As a theorist working on language, my research areas focus on syntax and semantics, and their interfaces with pragmatics, morphology, phonology and cognitive science. I used to work on cartography syntax when doing my MA degree. I believe interface study and interdisciplinary research could help deepen our understanding of language, which someday will help the theories meet the goal of ‘(beyond) explanatory adequacy’.
Theoretical Linguistics advisors: Paul Portner & Ruth Kramer
Cognitive Science advisors: Elissa Newport & Bryce Huebner & David Lightfoot (before retirement in 2021)
I mainly work on verbs, adjectives and tones. The languages I study are mostly Asian languages including Teochew (Southern Min; ‘the living fossil of ancient Chinese’), Cantonese, Mandarin and Thai. I also enjoy insights from cross-linguistic comparisons with other language families. Currently, I am working on my dissertation Causality and Argument Interpretation with a focus on contextual causee interpretations. See more details in Research.
News
Upcoming Luo, Zhuosi. Thematic relations are not syntactic-layer-linked primitives: lessons from the CAUSEE interpretation in Teochew ‘give’-causative. LSA 98. Poster.
10/2022 Luo, Zhuosi. Thematic interpretation of causee in Teochew ‘give’-causative. BCGL 15: Argument structure, theta-roles, and their realization. Talk.
09/2022 Dissertation proposal defense passed. Topic: Causality and argument interpretation
Zhuosi Luo 