Research Bio

Peter Jenks is a Professor of Linguistics with a specialization in syntax (the structure of sentences) and semantics (how these sentences convey the meanings that they do). In his research he employs theoretical models to precisely describe the inner workings of a broad array of languages, asking what insights they provide about the human language capacity. He is best known for his work on definiteness, demonstratives, and pronouns, as well as work on the interface between syntax and phonology. He has collaborated with Thai and Mandarin linguists to work on those languages, and has also a long-standing descriptive project on the languages of the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, recently completing a descriptive grammar of the Kordofanian language Moro, the result of over two decades of collaborative work.

His research has been published in Linguistic Inquiry, Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, and Language. Jenks has received NSF funding and recognition from the Linguistic Society of America for his contributions to syntactic theory and language documentation. At Berkeley, he teaches courses in syntax and semantics, mentoring students in linguistic fieldwork and theoretical analysis.

Research Expertise and Interest

syntax, semantics, morphology, linguistic theory, Thai, Southeast Asian languages, African languages