Dr Jonathan Morris
BA, MA, PhD, FHEA
Director of Research
- morrisj17@caerdydd.ac.uk
- +44(0) 29 2087 7266
- 1.74, John Percival Building, Colum Drive, Cardiff, CF10 3EU
- Welsh speaking
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I am a Senior Lecturer at the School of Welsh and specialise in the Welsh language and linguistics.
My research focuses on sociolinguistic aspects of bilingualism and second language acquisition. This means that I am interested in how languages are used and how social factors influence languages in bilingual and second-language contexts. These social factors might influence how bilinguals produce their languages or how they use and feel about them.
Research interests
- Sociolinguistics
- Language Variation and Change
- Sociology of Language
- Bilingualism
- Second Language Acquisition
- Phonetics and Phonology
Biography
I completed a BA in French and German Studies, MA in Languages and Linguistics, and PhD in Linguistics from the University of Manchester. During my undergraduate degree, I spent time at the University of Bourgogne (Dijon, France) and Basel University (Switzerland). My early work focussed on the relationship between language and identity in the German-speaking countries.
I began work on Welsh sociolinguistics and phonetics (sociophonetics) during my Master’s degree and my PhD examines the influence of linguistic and social factors in the speech of Welsh-English bilinguals.
I joined the School of Welsh as a research assistant in 2012. Before moving to Cardiff, I worked as a teaching assistant at the University of Manchester and as a lecturer in Welsh at Coleg Cambria, Wrexham. I have also worked as a research assistant on projects funded by the ESRC and British Academy.
Between September 2014 and August 2019, I was the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Lecturer in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics at the School of Welsh. Since then, I have been Senior Lecturer in Linguistics and Welsh Language.
Honours and awards
- Shortlisted for the ‘Innovating Across Borders’ category, Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Associate Lecturers Awards, 2019.
- Shortlisted for Most Innovative Member of Staff Award, Cardiff University, 2016.
Professional memberships
- British Association of Applied Linguists
- British Association of Academic Phoneticians
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Departmental & University Service
- Director of Research (School of Welsh)
- Co-Organiser of the Multilingualism Research Network
- Co-Organiser of the Sociolinguistics Reading Group
Publications
2023
- Mayr, R., Morris, J. and Montanari, S. 2023. The phonetics and phonology of early bilinguals. In: Amengual, M. ed. The Cambridge Handbook of Bilingual Phonetics and Phonology. Cambridge University Press
- Morris, J. 2023. Sosioieithyddiaeth. In: Naylor, A. and Roberts, L. eds. Beth yw'r Gymraeg?. Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, pp. 115-136.
- Morris, J. and Mac giolla chriost, D. 2023. The sociolinguistics of Welsh. In: Eska, J. F. et al. eds. Palgrave handbook of Celtic languages and linguistics. Palgrave Macmillan
- Morris, J. and Parker, S. 2023. LHDTC+ a'r Gymraeg: Ydy hi'n anodd perthyn i'r ddwy gymuned?. [Online]. BBC Cymru Fyw. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/64744353
2022
- Morris, J. and Young, K. 2022. Iaith – beth mae cyfnewid cod yn ei gyfleu?. [Online]. Golwg 360: Available at: https://golwg.360.cymru/gwerddon/2108980-iaith-beth-cyfnewid-gyfleu
- Morris, J. 2022. Fundamental frequency range in the bilingual repertoire of traditional and new Welsh speakers. International Journal of Bilingualism 26(5), pp. 564-583. (10.1177/13670069221110)
- Morris, J., Stenner, R., Palmer, G. and Foster Evans, D. 2022. Prawf darllen Cymraeg safonedig Consortiwm Canolbarth y De (Fersiwn 1.0). Project Report.
- Ezeani, I., El-Haj, M., Morris, J. and Knight, D. 2022. Introducing the Welsh text summarisation dataset and baseline systems. Presented at: 13th ELRA Language Resources and Evaluation Conference (LREC 2022), Marseille, France, 20-25 June 2022.
- El-Haj, M., Ezeani, I., Morris, J. and Knight, D. 2022. Creation of an evaluation corpus and baseline evaluation scores for Welsh text summarisation. Presented at: 4th Celtic Language Technology Workshop (CLTW 2022), Marseille, France, 20 June 2022.
- Morris, J., Ezeani, I., Gruffydd, I., Young, K., Davies, L., El-Haj, M. and Knight, D. 2022. Welsh automatic text summarisation. Presented at: Wales Academic Symposium on Language Technologies 2022, Bangor, Wales, 28/01/2022Language and Technology in Wales, Vol. 2. Bangor: Banolfan Bedwyr
- Beltrachini, L., Cercignani, M., Morris, J., Rees, I., Papageorgiou, A. and Simpson, I. 2022. Gwylia dy dafod / Watch your Welsh. [Online]. Prifysgol Caerdydd / Cardiff University. Available at: https://gwyliadydafod.org/cy/index.html
2021
- Mayr, R. and Morris, J. 2021. Social and psychological factors in bilingual speech production: introduction to the special issue. Languages 6(4), article number: 155. (10.3390/languages6040155)
- Mayr, R. and Morris, J. eds. 2021. Social and psychological factors in bilingual speech production. Basel: MDPI. (10.3390/books978-3-0365-2278-4)
- Mayr, R., Siddika, A., Morris, J. and Montanari, S. 2021. Bilingual phonological development across generations: segmental accuracy and error patterns in second- and third-generation British Bengali children. Journal of Communication Disorders 93, article number: 106140. (10.1016/j.jcomdis.2021.106140)
- Morris, J. 2021. Social influences on phonological transfer: /r/ variation in the repertoire of Welsh-English bilinguals. Languages 6(2), article number: 97. (10.3390/languages6020097)
2020
- Morris, J. and Hejná, M. 2020. Pre-aspiration in Bethesda Welsh: a sociophonetic analysis. Journal of the International Phonetic Association 50(2), pp. 168-192. (10.1017/S0025100318000221)
- Mayr, R., Roberts, L. and Morris, J. 2020. Can you tell by their English if they can speak Welsh? Accent perception in a language contact situation. International Journal of Bilingualism.. International Journal of Bilingualism 25(4), pp. 740-766. (10.1177/1367006919883035)
- Mennen, I., Kelly, N., Mayr, R. and Morris, J. 2020. The effects of home language and bilingualism on the realization of lexical stress in Welsh and Welsh English. Frontiers in Psychology 10, article number: 3038. (10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03038)
- Morris, J., Rees, I. W. and Prys, M. 2020. Amrywio. In: Cooper, S. and Arman, L. eds. Cyflwyniad i Ieithyddiaeth. Caerfyrddin: Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, pp. 139-180.
2018
- Rees, I. W. and Morris, J. 2018. Astudiaeth o ganfyddiadau tiwtoriaid Cymraeg i Oedolion o anawsterau ynganu ymhlith dysgwyr yr iaith. Gwerddon 27, pp. 39-66.
2017
- Evas, J., Morris, J. and Whitmarsh, L. 2017. Welsh language transmission and use in families: [final report]. Project Report. [Online]. Caerdydd - Cardiff: Llywodraeth Cymru - Welsh Government. Available at: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/statistics-and-research/2018-12/170612-welsh-language-transmission-use-in-families-en.pdf
- Mayr, R., Morris, J., Mennen, I. and Williams, D. 2017. Disentangling the effects of long-term language contact and individual bilingualism: The case of monophthongs in Welsh and English. International Journal of Bilingualism 21(3), pp. 245-267. (10.1177/1367006915614921)
- Morris, J. 2017. Sociophonetic variation in a long-term language contact situation: /l/-darkening in Welsh-English bilingual speech. Journal of Sociolinguistics 21(2), pp. 183-207. (10.1111/josl.12231)
2016
- Durham, M. and Morris, J. eds. 2016. Sociolinguistics in Wales. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. (10.1057/978-1-137-52897-1)
- Durham, M. and Morris, J. 2016. An overview of sociolinguistics in Wales. In: Durham, M. and Morris, J. eds. Sociolinguistics in Wales. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 3-28., (10.1057/978-1-137-52897-1_1)
- Morris, J. 2016. Porth esboniadur: Semanteg [Esboniadur Beirniadaeth a Theori]. [Online]. Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Available at: https://wici.porth.ac.uk/index.php/Semanteg
- Morris, J., Mayr, R. and Mennen, I. 2016. The role of linguistic background on sound variation in Welsh and Welsh English. In: Durham, M. and Morris, J. eds. Sociolinguistics in Wales. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 241-271., (10.1057/978-1-137-52897-1_9)
2015
- Morris, J. 2015. S. J. Hannahs (2013): The phonology of Welsh [Book Review]. Linguistische Berichte 242, pp. 197-199.
- Mennen, I., Mayr, R. and Morris, J. 2015. Influences of language contact and linguistic experience on the production of lexical stress in Welsh and Welsh English. Presented at: 18th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, Glasgow, UK, 10-14 August 2015 Presented at The Scottish Consortium for ICPhS 2015, . ed.Proceedings of ICPhS 2015. London: The International Phonetic Association pp. Online.
2014
- Morris, J. 2014. The influence of social factors on minority language engagement amongst young people: an investigation of Welsh-English bilinguals in North Wales. International Journal of the Sociology of Language 2014(230), pp. 65-89. (10.1515/ijsl-2014-0027)
2013
- Morris, J. 2013. Sociolinguistic variation and regional minority language bilingualism: An investigation of Welsh-English bilinguals in North Wales. PhD Thesis, University of Manchester.
2012
- Van Hattum, M., Morris, J. and Hoffmann, D. 2012. Editorial: Proceedings of the 19th International Postrgraduate Linguistics Conference in Linguistics. In: Van Hattum, M., Morris, J. and Hoffmann, D. eds. Salford Working Papers in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics., Vol. 2. Salford: University of Salford, pp. 1-1.
2010
- Morris, J. 2010. Phonetic variation in Northern Wales: preaspiration. Presented at: Second Summer School of Sociolinguistics, Edinburgh, Scotland, 14-20 June 2010 Presented at Meyerhoff, M. et al. eds.Proceedings of the Second Summer School of Sociolinguistics, The University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh pp. 1-16.
Teaching
Teaching at Cardiff University
I teach (or have taught) modules on the Welsh language and linguistics. These include:
- Sgiliau Llafar yn y Gymraeg (Oral Skills in Welsh)
- Defnyddio'r Gymraeg (Using the Welsh Language)
- Cyflwyniad i'r Gymraeg (Introduction to the Welsh Language)
- Diwylliant y Gymraeg (Culture of the Welsh Language)
- Yr Ystafell Ddosbarth (The Classroom)
I have been module leader on the following modules:
- Y Gymraeg yn y Gymru Gyfoes (The Welsh Language in Contemporary Wales)
- Cymraeg y Gweithle a'r Gymuned (Welsh in the Workplace and Community)
- Yr Iaith Ar Waith (The Language at Work)
- Sosioieithyddiaeth (Sociolinguistics)
- Caffael Iaith (Language Acquisition)
- Blas ar Ymchwil (BA Research Project)
- Ymchwilio Estynedig (BA Dissertation)
I also teach on the MA in Welsh and Celtic Studies and deliver training to PhD students on data analysis in linguistics.
Previous Teaching in English Language and Linguistics
I have taught on the following modules in English language and linguistics:
- Introduction to Phonology
- Discourse Analysis
- Societal Multilingualism
- English Dialects
Previous Teaching of Welsh for Adult Learners
I have taught on the following courses for adults who are learning Welsh:
- National Sabbatical Scheme for Welsh Language Training
- Welsh in the Workplace (Further Education)
- GCSE Welsh Second Language (Further Education)
- Welsh for Adults
Research Themes
Language Variation and Change in bilinguals' speech
My research focuses primarily on language variation and change in the speech of Welsh-English bilinguals. A number of societal developments in the twentieth century have changed the demographics of Welsh speakers. Firstly, inward migration and language shift have resulted in a decline in the number of speakers who acquire Welsh in the home, particularly in traditionally Welsh-speaking areas. Secondly, the establishment of Welsh-medium education has meant an increase in ‘new speakers’ of Welsh across Wales. The aim of my research has been to examine the extent to which linguistic and extra-linguistic factors (such as sex, proportion of Welsh speakers in the community, and home language) influence phonetic and phonological variation in both English and Welsh. The work therefore takes a sociolinguistic approach to bilingualism and second language acquisition and compares how speakers produce their two languages. More recently, I have been looking at how speakers evaluate Welsh accents (with Robert Mayr and Ianto Gruffydd), the acquisition of sociolinguistic competence among young people in Welsh-medium education (with Mercedes Durham and Katharine Young), and stylistic variation in the bilingual repertoire.
The sociology of bilingualism
I am also interested in the sociology of language. I have published on attitudes towards Welsh and use of the language amongst young people in two towns in North Wales and I was part of a Welsh Government-funded research project on the transmission of Welsh. Another focus of this research strand is how identities intersect. For example, I have been working on a project which examines the experiences of LGBTQ+ speakers of Welsh and the way in which their identities influence each other (with Sam Parker).
The acquisition of Welsh as a second language
I published an article on Welsh for Adults tutors' attitudes towards learners' speech (with Iwan Wyn Rees) and have also examined speech production in adult learners. More broadly, I am interested in the influence of social and psychological factors on second language acquisition among children and adult learners of Welsh.
Resources and digital infrastructure
I have worked on a number of projects which have created Welsh-language resources and contribute towards digital infrastructure in the language. I have also led on projects to create Welsh reading and spelling tests as well as a digital thesaurus.
- National Corpus of Contemporary Welsh (led by Dawn Knight)
- ACC: Welsh Automatic Text Summarisation with Dawn Knight and Mo El-Haj and Ignatius Ezeani.
- Central South Consortium Welsh Reading Test with Rosanna Stenner , Geraint Palmer, and Dylan Foster Evans.
- Watch Your Welsh website with Leandro Beltrachini, Mara Cercignani, Iwan Wyn Rees, Andreas Papageorgiou, and Ivor Simpson.
Current Projects
- The social evaluation of Welsh accents with Robert Mayr and Ianto Gruffydd.
- Social and psychological factors influencing Welsh learners' attitudes with Charlotte Brookfield.
- ThACC: Online Thesaurus of Contemporary Welsh with Dawn Knight, Mo El-Haj and Elin Arfon.
- Central South Consortium Welsh Spelling Test with Rosanna Stenner , Geraint Palmer, and Dylan Foster Evans.
Supervision
I am eager to hear from postgraduate research students who are interested in the following areas:
- Sociolinguistics
- Language Variation and Change
- Sociology of Language
- Bilingualism
- Second Language Acquisition
- Phonetics and phonology
