My primary areas of study are language documentation, language endangerment, and language contact issues, particularly in diaspora contexts.  In particular, I focus on Oceanic languages spoken in geographic Micronesia.  My dissertation research deals with language attitudes and use among recent Compact of Free Association migrants from the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands who have settled in Honolulu, Hawaii and central Florida.

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Language Documentation

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My first main research interest is the creation of primary texts that focus on exploring emic categorizations of the world and traditional ecological knowledge.  I am also passionate about data management issues, including archiving, dissemination, and attribution.  I believe in involving community members as much as possible in the data collection process, and creating materials and research that has direct benefit to the community I work with.  To date, I've primarily worked with languages of Pohnpei State, FSM including Pohnpeian, Mokilese, and Kapingamarangi.

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Language Contact

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My second main interest is language contact, and how intense contact in diaspora situations affects language attitudes and native phonology for endangered or threatened Pacific languages.  I am also interested in the impact of negative or ommisive discourse on minority languages, and what role social networks have on the maintenance of diaspora languages.

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