Jessie Johnson Email and Phone Number

I am a computational linguist applying linguistic theory to language technology, driving advancements in both domains. Specifically, I evaluate the potential of state-of-the-art automatic speech recognition systems to mimic human cognitive processes, with the aim to enhance the performance of these technologies.For example, I used language technology to investigate linguistic theory in my master’s thesis, I devised a novel method for isolating vowel characteristics (by “deconstructing” the audio spectrum through exploiting the properties of MFCCs). My findings provide encouraging support for the features posited by modern linguistic theory, helping to inform our understanding of human language. In the other direction, I most recently used (neuro)linguistic findings to investigate language technology. I examined whether similarities emerging between state-of-the-art transformer-based neural networks and human cognition contributed to the latest rapid improvements in automatic speech recognition systems. To determine how similar transformers are to humans in representing speech sounds, I analyzed the organization of phonetic properties found in speech sounds (via the node activations) of the transformers-based system, wav2vec2. Additionally, I completed coursework, prepared progress reports, planned and managed my own research projects, collaborated with professors and fellow students. At the same time, I conducted independent, original research and wrote research papers. I attended conferences and presented my original research, assessed and reviewed abstracts for conferences, and wrote research and grant proposals.

I was a teaching assistant to 3 different courses within the department of linguistics and one course in the honors department.Course: Language & Technology; general ed. and linguistics major requirement (Spring 2020 and 2022 semesters)Role: Led labs; created supplemental materials for lab work, designing additional exercises for difficult topicsSummary: Using computer programming (Matlab and Python) to investigate natural speech sounds, artificial speech generation, and recognition. Covered: phonetics, signal processing, speech recognition and synthesis, neural networksCourse: Human Language as Computation; req. course for 3rd-year linguistics majors (Fall 2021)Role: Designed several dozen sentence structure-oriented lab exercises using Python that applied and extended concepts.Summary: Natural language processing; used computer programming and machine learning to investigate sentence structure; covered: recurrent neural networks, back-propagation, n-gram models, calculating weights and biases; algorithmic paradigms, e.g., greedy, exhaustive, dynamic programmingCourse: Human Speech; honors degree-track general education course (Fall 2020 semester)Role: Designed lab activities, led critical discussions based on the course materialCourse summary: Learn about all aspects of natural spoken and signed languages, the auditory system; phonetics; phonology; child language acquisition, as well as speech and language disordersCourse: Language & Society; general education course (Fall semesters 2018 and 2019)Role: designed activities for guided discussion and applying sociolinguistic concepts, created rubrics and assessed research papers and essay questions on exams.Course summary: Investigating language use among diverse social groups in institutional and interpersonal settings; intersection of language practices and gender; socioeconomic status; ethnicity; social structures, and cultural values as reflected in language policies and practices.

I transcribed files, providing narrow phonetic transcriptions of diverse ethnic Australian English varieties for cross‐comparison between those transcriptions of Drs Donohue and SidwellAdditionally, I noted discourse features(e.g., discourse markers, word choice, intonation) and extracted speech components such as pitch, duration, voice‐onset time in Praat for statistical analysis in determining (dis)similarity between the original sample and the exemplar.I also designed and deployed the website using WordPress, and maintained profiles and media presence on social media platforms.

My research focused on the phonology of tones (i.e., tonology), and how languages develop tone (i.e., tonogenesis). I conducted fieldwork in Nepal to document two languages, with different aims: I aided in documentation efforts of the Nubri language to create a dictionary, and discuss the implications for an orthography. I also documented a previously-undescribed variety of the Tamang language, writing my master's thesis on its tones, and the interaction of tones when nouns are modified by suffixes (postpositional case-markings), contributing to the body of literature investigating the language's path to tonogenesis.Both documentation experiences required phonological and (morpho-)syntactic analysis.

Taught all subjects (e.g., English, math, science) in an English immersion environment to children ages 4-7, whom I mentored and supported; managed prepared lesson plans; designed assignments; compiled reports of the progress of my students, as well as of design and coverage of the curriculum.

I directed and taught an intensive aviation English course for hundreds of Chinese and Vietnamese pilot cadets of varying English proficiency for 30 hours each week. I researched, designed, and implemented the intensive aviation English curriculum and proprietary English comprehension and proficiency testing to prepare Vietnamese and Chinese pilot cadets flying out of the busiest general aviation airport in the country.