Faculty Research

Phonology, Phonetics and Computational Linguistics Research Lab

Dr. Zhiqiang Li has conducted research on phonological prominence in tone sandhi, phonology and phonetics of intonation, enhancement in speech, and speech learning in second language acquisition. Currently he is working on tone sandhi and intonation in Chinese dialects. Please refer to his Faculty Profile page for selected publications. 

My dissertation can be downloaded here: https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/17651

Conference papers

  • Zhu, Yuzhu, Zhiqiang Li and Aijun Li. 2023. The interaction of intonation boundary and lexical tones under two focus conditions in the Wuzhi dialect of Chinese. In Proceedings of the 20th International Congress of Phonetics Sciences. Prague, Czech Republic. August 7-11.
  • Zhang, Xiaoyan, Aijun Li and Zhiqiang Li. 2023. Disyllabic tone sandhi of the right-prominent prosodic word in Taifeng Chinese. In Proceedings of the 15th Phonetic Conference of China. Shenzhen, China. July 7-10.
  • Zhang, Xiaoyan, Aijun Li and Zhiqiang Li. 2022. An analysis of the disyllabic tone sandhi in the modifier-noun structure in Taifeng Chinese. The 17th National Conference on Man-Machine Speech Communication (NCMMSC). Hefei, China. December 15-18.
  • Zhang, Xiaoyan, Aijun Li and Zhiqiang Li. 2021. Complex patterns of tonal realization in Taifeng Chinese. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on Chinese Spoken Language Processing (ISCSLP). Online. Jan. 24-26.
  • Li, Aijun, Xiaoyan Zhang and Zhiqiang Li. 2020. Acoustic and phonological analyses of tones in Taifeng Chinese. In Proceedings of Speech Prosody 2020. Online. May 25-August 31.
  • Li, Aijun, Gan Huang and Zhiqiang Li. 2019. Prosodic cues in the interpretation of echo questions in Chinese spoken dialogues. In Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Signal and Information Processing Association Annual Summit and Conference. Lanzhou, China. November 18-21.
  • Zhao, Chenyang, Aijun Li, Zhiqiang Li and Ying Tang. 2019. An acoustic study of affricates produced by L2 English learners in Harbin. In Proceedings of the Oriental COCOSDA 2019. Cebu City, Philippines. October 25-27.
  • Li, Aijun and Zhiqiang Li. 2019. Spectral analysis of sibilant fricative and the Ling sound test for speakers of Chinese dialects. In Proceedings of the International Congress of Phonetics Sciences 2019, Melbourne, Australia. August 5-9.
  • Li, Aijun, Zhiqiang Li, Gan Huang and Liang Zhang. 2018. Tonal target and peak delay in Mandarin neutral tone. In Proceedings of the Oriental COCOSDA 2018. Miyazaki, Japan. May 7-8.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2018. Enhancement in Mandarin Chinese. In Proceedings of the 13th Phonetic Conference of China, Ji’nan University, China. November 9-11.
  • Lin, Maocan and Zhiqiang Li. 2011. Focus and boundary tone in Chinese intonation. In Proceedings of the XVII International Congress of Phonetics Sciences, pp. 1246-1249. Hong Kong. August 17-21.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2005. Dual prominence in tone mapping: a case of tone movement. In Proceedings of the 24th West Coast Conference of Formal Linguistics, eds. by John Alderete et al., 245-253. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Proceedings Project.
  • Stevens, Ken, Zhiqiang Li, Chao-Yang Lee and Samuel Jay Keyser. 2004. A note on Mandarin fricatives and enhancement, In From Traditional Phonology to Modern Speech Processing, eds. by G. Fant and H. Fujisaki, J. Cao and Y. Xu, pp. 393-403. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2003. A perceptual account of asymmetries in tonal alignment. In Proceedings of the North East Linguistic Society 33, eds. by Makoto Kadowaki and Shigeto Kawahara, 147-166. Amherst, MA: UMass GLSA.
  • Li, Zhiqiang and Degif Petros Banksira. 2000. Tonal structure of yes-no question intonation in Chaha. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Spoken Language Processing. Vol. 2: 79-82.

INVITED TALKS

  • Li, Zhiqiang and Li Aijun. 2023. Boundary marking in two Chinese dialects. The 9th International Conference on Prosodic Grammar (ICPG-9). July 15-16, 2023. University of San Francisco.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2023. Perceptual conditions of stress and prosodic adjustment strategies in Mandarin prosodic words. The Sixth International Forum on Linguistics and Chinese Education (IFOLICE-6). May 26-28, 2023. Stanford University.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2023. Stress patterns of disyllabic prosodic words and their relevance to teaching tones in sentences. The 30th International Conference on Chinese Language Instruction. April 29, 2023. Princeton University.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2022. Phonological motivation and phonetic cues of prosodic prominence. The 8th International Conference on Prosodic Grammar (ICPG-8). October 22-23, 2022. Online.
  • Li, Aijun and Zhiqiang Li. 2022. Phonetic realization and acquisition of boundary tones in Mandarin Chinese. Chinese Forum of Social Sciences. October 20-22, 2022.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2021. Prosodic features in Mandarin and the instruction of tones at the sentence level. Symposium on Linguistics Theory and Chinese Language Education. University of Wisconsin-Madison, November 6-7, 2021.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2021. The contribution of prosody to the instruction of Chinese pronunciation. Workshop on Chinese Prosody and Instruction of Chinese Pronunciation. Columbia University. June 3, 2021. Online.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2021. Complex patterns of tone sandhi in Taifeng Chinese. The 7th International Conference on Prosodic Grammar (ICPG-7). April 17-18, 2021. Online.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2019. Distinctive features and phonology-phonetic mapping. International Symposium on Tradition and Innovation in Phonetic Study. Beijing, China, May 20.
  • Li, Zhqiang. 2019. Perception and production connection in second language phonology. Columbia University, May 3.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2018. Mandarin phonology and pronunciation teaching. Chinese Teachers’ Workshop: Teaching Chinese: Global Effort and Transcultural Education. Webster University, Nov. 3.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2018. Syllable structure in Mandarin: phonotactics and pronunciation. Symposium on Linguistics and Chinese Pedagogy. University of Notre Dame, Oct. 27.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2018. Positional asymmetry in prosodic mapping: phonology and phonetics. The 5th International Conference of Chinese Prosodic Grammar (ICPG-5). Fudan University, Shanghai, China, July 14-15.
  • Li, Zhiqiang and Yingyu Zhang. 2017. Phonetics of pictographic characters in Chinese teaching. The Third International Symposium on the Culture of Chinese Characters and Language. Tufts University, Nov. 3-5.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2016. How studies in phonetics and phonology inform Chinese language instruction. Workshop on Bridging Research and Teaching: What Linguistics and History Tell us about Chinese Instruction. Columbia University, Nov. 4.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2015. Emphasizing phonetic details in teaching pronunciation. Forum on Teaching Chinese Sounds and Beyond. University of Notre Dame, April 18.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2014. Tone movement and dual prominence. Workshop on Frontiers in Experimental Phonetics: in honor of Prof. LIN Maocan’s 80th Birthday. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, October 14.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2014. A practical model of intonation for Mandarin Chinese teaching. The Second International Symposium on Chinese Language Teaching. Confucius Institute at the San Francisco State University, April 25-26.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2013. Phonetic principles and the acquisition of Chinese tone and intonation. Stanford EACL/CI Symposium on Grammatical Instruction in Culturally Appropriate CFL Teaching. Stanford University, May 3-4.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2013. Phonetic principles and the acquisition of Chinese tone and intonation. CJK Program Articulation & Curriculum Development Workshop. Yale University, April 5-6.

SELECTED Conference presentations

  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2023. Perception of prominence and prosodic adjustment in Mandarin prosodic words. Presented at the ACTFL Convention and World Languages Expo. Chicago: Nov. 17-19.
  • Huang, Jingwen, Aijun Li and Zhiqiang Li. 2023. A study of the trisyllabic tone sandhi patterns in Shanghai. Presented at the 9th International Conference on Prosodic Grammar (ICPG-9). July 15-16, 2023. University of San Francisco.
  • Li, Zhiqiang, Tong Chen and Min Wan. 2022. Teaching prosody and why it matters to learning tones. Panel Panel at the ACTFL Convention and World Languages Expo. Boston: Nov. 18-20.
  • Li, Zhiqiang, Tong Chen and Min Wan. 2021. Teaching tones the way they are actually said: framework and demonstration. Panel at the ACTFL Convention and World Languages Expo. Online, Nov. 19-21.
  • Li, Zhiqiang, Xia Liang and Hang Zhang. 2019. From tone to syllable structure: research and pedagogical implementations. Panel at the ACTFL Convention and World Languages Expo. Washington D.C., Nov. 22-24.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2019. Syllable structure in Mandarin: phonotactics and pronunciation. Presented at the 5th International Forum on Linguistics and Chinese Education (IFOLCE-5). Columbia University, Oct. 4-7.

  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2019. Phonetics enhancement in Mandarin. Presented at the 27th Conference of International Association of Chinese Linguistics. Kobe, Japan, May 10-13.

  • Li, Aijun, Ruiyuan Xu and Zhiqiang Li. 2019. The Six-Sound test in Chinese dialects. Presented at the 27th Conference of International Association of Chinese Linguistics. Kobe, Japan, May 10-13.
  • Li, Zhiqiang, Xia Liang, Lening Liu and Chaofen Sun. 2019. Revisiting Chinese character instruction. Panel at the Chinese Language Teachers Association Annual Conference (CLTA). Seattle, April 4-7.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2019. Phonetic properties of multiple neutral-tone sequences and teaching instructions. Presented at the CLTAC Spring Conference. Stanford, March 9.
  • Li, Zhiqiang, Chaofen Sun and Xia Liang. 2018. Deciphering linguistic and cultural messages in teaching classical Chinese. Panel at the ACTFL Convention and World Languages Expo. New Orleans, Nov. 16-18.
  • Yingyu Zhang and Zhiqiang Li. 2018. Distribution of finals with vowels in grades 3 and 4 in Middle Chinese in the four types of finals in Modern Chinese. The 20th International Conference on Studies of Chinese Historical Phonology. Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China, August 18-19.
  • Chu, Chengzhi, Zhiqiang Li, Kai Li and Lening Liu, Kai Li. 2018. Developing advanced-level linguistic competence in Chinese classes at U.S. universities. Panel discussion at the CLTA Annual Conference. Virginia, April 6-8.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2018. Stress distribution in wh-questions with interrogative pronouns and its tonal realization. Presented at the 2019 CLTAC Spring Conference. Stanford, March 3.
  • Li, Zhiqiang, Lening Liu, Xia Liang and Chaofen Sun. 2017. Bridging research and teaching. Panel discussion at ACTFL/CLTA Annual Conference. Nashville, Nov. 17-19.
  • Li, Zhqiang. 2017. Similarity of English and Chinese intonation and its relevance in teaching Chinese tone and intonation. The 25rd Conference on Chinese Language Instruction. Princeton University, April 29.

  • Li, Zhiqiang, Xia Liang, Yu-lin Wang and Licheng Gu. 2016. Pedagogical Issues in Teaching Chinese Heritage Learners. Panel discussion at ACTFL/CLTA Annual Conference. Boston, Nov. 18-20.
  • Li, Zhiqiang and Maocan Lin. 2016. A study of tone and intonation in teaching Chinese as a foreign language. Presented at the Second International Forum on Linguistics in Chinese Education (IFOLCE-2). Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), July 2-3.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2016. Why is stress more important than tones in teaching Chinese. The 24rd Conference on Chinese Language Instruction. Princeton University, April 30.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2015. Phonetic basis of the acquisition of Mandarin phonology. The First International Forum on Linguistics in Chinese Education (IFOLCE-1). University of California at Davis, May 9-10.

  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2015. Teaching intonation. Presented at the 23rd Conference on Chinese Language instruction. Princeton University, April 25.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2014. A practical model of intonation for Mandarin Chinese teaching. Spring Conference of Chinese Language Teachers Association of California. Stanford University, March 8.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2010. Phonetic basis of pronunciation teaching and the pedagogical strategies. Presented at Princeton University Annual Conference on Chinese Language Instruction. Princeton University, April 24.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2009. A linguistic perspective on interlanguage. The 2nd Berkeley International Conference on Chinese Language Teaching. University of California at Berkeley, August 15-16.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2009. Phonetics and teaching of tones in Chinese. Spring Conference of Chinese Language Teachers Association of California. Stanford University, March 7.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2008. Foreign language learning as a process of constraint re-ranking. Spring Conference of Chinese Language Teachers Association of California. Stanford University, March 8.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2007. The role of non-contrastive features in perceiving the phonological contrast. The 15th International Association of Chinese Linguistics and the 19th North American Conference on Chinese Linguistics Joint Conference. Columbia University, March 25-27.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2005. Dual prominence in tone mapping: A case of tone movement. West Coast Conference Formal Linguistics 24. Simon Fraser University, March 18-20.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2004. Intonation structure in Chaha. The 35th Annual Conference on African Linguistics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA., April 1-3.
  • Lee, Chao-Yang and Zhiqiang Li 2003.  Enhancement of phonological contrast: Acoustics of apical and retroflex vowels in Mandarin Chinese. Poster Presentation at the 34th Annual Meeting of the North Eastern Linguistic Society. Stony Brook, NY.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2003. An OT approach to the conflicting directionality of tone spreading in Danyang. The Annual Meeting of the Michigan Linguistic Society. University of Michigan, Oct. 11.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2002. A perceptual account of asymmetries in tonal alignment. The North East Linguistic Society 33. MIT, Nov. 9.
  • Li, Zhiqiang. 2000. Tonal structure of yes-no question intonation in Chaha. The 6th International Conference on Spoken Language Processing. Beijing, China. Oct. 16-20.