During the past ten years, my research has switched from Chinese linguistics and language typology to the biological foundation of language with special focus on the multidisciplinary approach to the evolutionary origin of language involving paleoanthropology, neural science and the evolution of cognitive behavior among mammals. Related to my research I will be offering new courses in the Linguistics Department on language and brain and the biological foundation of language.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

“The evolutionary origin of language”, in Mirror Neurons and the Evolution of Brain and Language, edited by M. Stamenov & V. Gallese, John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2002. pp.175-206.

CURRENT PROJECTS

• A multidisciplinary approach to the origin of language

COURSES TAUGHT

• Linguistics 185: Animal Communication.
• Graduate Seminar: The Evolutionary Origin of Language.