Hello and Welcome!
I’ve decided to start writing a blog to share my thoughts, experiences, tutorials, and projects related to my work and research in linguistics. I hope to create a space that is both informative and engaging. I am new to this world of blogging, so this is going to be a fun learning experience for me as well.
Since this is my first post, I figured it would be a good idea to introduce myself and explain what I hope to do with this blog.
About Me
My name is Mykel Brinkerhoff and I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Linguistics and the Acting Phonetics Lab Director at the University of Washington.
Prior to arriving at UW, I received my PhD in Linguistics from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) in June 2025. My dissertation focused on the phonetics of voice quality in Santiago Laxopa Zapotec, an Otomanguean language spoken in Oaxaca, Mexico. I also got my Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019 and my Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics (with a minor in German Language and Literature) from the University of Utah in 2015.
My Research Interests
I am fascinated with the study of sounds in human language, particularly how they are produced, perceived, and their acoustic properties (i.e., phonetics). Besides my interest in phonetics, I am also interested in how these speech sounds function and are organized within a single language or accross multiple languages (i.e., phonology).
I am especially interested in how phonetics and phonology interact with each other and how phonology interacts with other areas of linguistics, such as morphology and syntax. I typically use experiemental methods to investigate these topics, including acoustic analysis, articulatory measurements, and perceptual experiments. My work often involves cross-linguistic comparisons to understand universal principles of sound systems as well as language-specific phenomena.
Why a Blog?
When deciding to start this blog, I wanted to create a space where I could share my knowledge and expertise in linguistics, but also a space where I could document my learning process as I explore new tools and techniques. I was inspired by other linguists who blog about their work and research, such as Joey Stanley. One thing that I loved about these other blogs is that they offered tutorials and insights into a variety of topics that I found useful and interesting in my own work. I want to do the same here.
I hope to post regularly, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. My goal is to post at least once a month, but we’ll see how it goes.
What to Expect
I am still figuring out the exact direction of this blog, but I have a few ideas of what I want to include. For example I was thinking about including the following types of posts:
- Research Insights: Updates and findings from my ongoing research in linguistics.
- Tutorials: Step-by-step guides on various tools and techniques I use in my work. This may include programming, data analysis, and linguistic theory.
- Project Updates: Information about projects I’m working on, including challenges and successes.
- Personal Reflections: Thoughts on the field of linguistics and its future directions.
- Articles and Reviews: Summaries and reviews of interesting papers, books, and resources I am reading.
Conclusion
I am excited to embark on this blogging journey and I hope you will join me along the way. Whether you are a fellow linguist, a student, or just someone interested in language, I hope you find something of value here.
Stay tuned for updates. Thank you for visiting!
Citation
@online{brinkerhoff2025,
author = {Brinkerhoff, Mykel Loren},
title = {Welcome to {My} {Blog}},
date = {2025-09-08},
url = {https://blog.mlbrinkerhoff.me/posts/Introduction/},
langid = {en}
}