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I received my Ph.D in Linguistics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005. My main research interests are linguistic theory (the Principle & Parameters framework and the Minimalist Program) and linguistic typology. My research focuses on (i) investigating syntactic (dis)similarities among various languages of the world and
(ii) explaining them in terms of parameters and UG . In 2003-2004, I did fieldwork in Ghana and worked with my collaborator (George
Akanlig-Pare) on Buli, a Gur language of the Niger-Congo family spoken in West Africa. I have also worked on projects on some other Gur languages such as Dagaare and Kabiye with my collaborators (Adams Bodomo and Komlan Essezewa). The other important aspect of my research is the study of Japanese syntax from theoretical and typological perspectives. In 2006, I coauthored a book on the Japanese syntax (with Ken-ichi Mihara). I am also planning to start a project on Ryukyuan languages spoken in Okinawa, Japan.

Webpage: http://alum.mit.edu/www/hiraiwa



Selected Recent Publications - click to view/hide