Dr. Tris Faulkner (@trisfaulkner) holds a Ph.D. in Spanish Linguistics from Georgetown University, two master’s degrees (Georgetown and Wake Forest University) in Spanish Linguistics and Interpreting and Translation Studies, as well as a bachelor’s degree (Louisiana State University) in Spanish Language and Literature and International Studies.

She is currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Linguistics, housed in the Department of Spanish Language and Literatures at Kalamazoo College, while also being a contributing/collective faculty member in the African Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality programs.

Most of Professor Faulkner’s research investigates the semantics and pragmatics of “non-standard” grammars (e.g., the contextual meanings that language forms, whether standard or non-standard, tend to carry). In having this focus, she hopes not only to inform about the beauty, meaningfulness, and normalcy of linguistic variation, but also to help eliminate harmful and discriminatory ideas about “wrong”, “incorrect”, or “bad” language.

Additionally, since the label “non-standard” is often a by-product of social inequities (as opposed to some inherent quality of the language itself), Dr. Faulkner’s teaching and studies often discuss the important role that identity plays in the manifestation of linguistic prejudice and/or justice. Her investigations incorporate the use of both corpora and human participants, and center on Spanish, English, and Jamaican Creole. Click here or here to take a look at Professor Faulkner’s most recent papers.

(For more information on her research, teaching experience, or interests, please visit the links in the menu section above. And if you’d like to contact Dr. Faulkner, please use the following link: Contact. She is always looking to collaborate!)