I work in the Department of Theoretical Linguistics of the University of Amsterdam. For my research, I am attached to the Amsterdam Centre for Language and Communication.

At present I teach Optimality Theory, Phonology & Morphology, Historical Linguistics and Minority Languages of Europe.

My research is divided between Phonology and Creole Studies - in the broadest sense of bothsub-disciplines.

I am the Programme Director for the M.A. in General Linguistics, and joint Research Co-ordinator for the Language Creation programme.

I am Scottish, i.e. I come from Scotland. In Scotland three autochthonous languages are spoken at the present day: Scottish Gaelic, Scots and (Scottish) English. Formerly, also a Welsh dialect, Cumbric, (till ca. 1200), Pictish (till ca. 1000) and Norn (till ca. 1800) were spoken. I am interested in all these languages.

Of these six languages three are Celtic, and three Germanic.

In addition there are a number of languages formerly used by (semi-)nomadic groups: "Scottish Gaelic Shelta", Scottish Travellers' Cant, and "Scoto-Romany". To what extent these are still spoken is completely unknown. Also the degree to which they formed independent linguistic systems, or were just "secret" add-ons to Gaelic, and Scots respectively, is unclear.

I no longer wear "ethnic" garments, but as a child I did on formal occasions.

Me in my kilt