Dr Sonja Schaeffler (M.A., PhD) is a Reader in Speech Variation in the Division of Speech & Hearing Sciences. She is also a full member and Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Clinical Audiology, Speech & Language (CASL).
- Overview
- Research Interests
- Research Publications
- Funded Projects
- Teaching & Learning
I joined QMU in 2006 – first as post-doctoral researcher, than as a lecturer. I’m now Reader in Speech Variation within the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences and Deputy Director of CASL.
With a background in Phonetics (M.A., Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) and Psychology (PhD, University of Stirling), much of my research and teaching takes place in the borderland between these two disciplines.
For more and up-to-date information, please visit my detailed website.
Affiliations/Memberships to Other Organisations:
Member of the British Association of Academic Phoneticians (BAAP).
Member of the ESRC Peer Review College.
Research/Knowledge Exchange Centre Membership:
Research Centre for Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language (CASL) - Full.
I'm interested in the ‘when, how and why’ of speech variation. My research is interdisciplinary and considers the fine-phonetic and articulatory details of speech variation, intentional and unconscious speech variation, as well as the intra- and interindividual differences that may facilitate or impede such variation (e.g. differences in cognitive processing, in oro-motor skills, in attitude, motivation and personality).
My projects include work on speech registers (particularly child-directed speech), on adaptations of articulatory settings in bilinguals, and on variation in accent use (particularly in Scotland).
I’m also interested in the implications of speech variations: for the listener, and for the speaker's own sense of role and place.
For more and up-to-date information, please visit my detailed website.
My SAVy research group on “Scottish Accent Variation” – with Prof Jim Scobbie (QMU), Prof Jennifer Smith (Glasgow University) and PhD student Janet Coulson (QMU).
Collaborative research on “The Cultural Evolution of Child-Directed Speech” – with Prof Vera Kempe (Abertay University).
Irina Brodskaya's current PhD project on the use of Ultrasound Tongue Imaging for 'second accent' training (Co-Supervisor: Dr Felix Schaeffler).
Janet Coulson's current PhD project on accent adaptions in professionally trained speakers (Co-Supervisor: Prof Jim Scobbie, External Advisor: Prof Jennifer Smith, Glasgow University).
Pertti Palo's PhD project on articulatory reaction times (Co-Supervisor: Prof Jim Scobbie): Measuring Pre-Speech Articulation (2019).
Elli Drake's ultrasound-based PhD project on speech planning (Director of Study: Prof Martin Corley, Edinburgh University): The involvement of the Speech Production System in Prediction During Comprehension: An Articulatory Imaging Investigation (2016).
Interested in a collaboration, or in applying for a PhD? Get in touch.
2022: SFC and UKRI Talent and Research Stabilisation Funding, “Procurement of data for interdisciplinary research on the cultural evolution of Child-Directed Speech, P.I.: Dr Sonja Schaeffler, Co-Is: Prof Vera Kempe (Abertay University), Dr Glenn Williams (Northumbria University).
2019: Small-project funding from the Research Centre for Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language (CASL), QMU, Edinburgh, for an RA to collect pilot data on “Exploring the ability and motivation of Edinburgh adolescent bi-dialectals to produce an English and a Scottish accent”
2018: Small-project funding from the Research Centre for Clinical Audiology, Speech and Language (CASL), QMU, for an RA to collect pilot data on “The Ups and Downs of Bilingualism - Bilinguals’ Strengths and Weaknesses in Tasks Related to Executive Functioning".
2010: Named researcher on a grant funded under QMU's Project Investment Bid scheme: "Cognitive Correlates of Articulatory Settings" (in collaboration with Dr Martin Corley, Department of Psychology, Edinburgh University).
2008 - 2010: PI on the ESRC-funded project "Open-Mouthed or Stiff Upper Lip? Exploring Language-Specific Articulatory Settings in English-German Bilinguals" (RES-000-22-3032, co-investigators: Prof Jim Scobbie and Prof Ineke Mennen).
2009 - 2010: Research Fellow on the EPSRC-funded project "An Edinburgh Speech Production Facility" (EP/E01609X/1 and EP/E016359/1, PI: Prof Alice Turk and Prof Jim Scobbie, Co-Investigators: Dr Simon King, Prof Steve Renals, Dr Robin Lickley, Dr Sonja Schaeffler).
2008: Named researcher on a British Academy small grant: "Exploring Differences in Articulatory Settings Across Languages" (SG-48460, PI: Prof Jim Scobbie, Queen Margaret University).
2008: Named researcher on a British Academy small grant: "Refining the analysis of acoustic indicators for the vocal expression of positive emotion" (SG-49512, PI: Dr Vera Kempe, Abertay University).
2007 - 2008: Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by the ESRC: "The Phonetic Details of Speech Variation and Their Impact on Listener Comprehension and Attention" (PTA-026-27-1465).
2004: Studentship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
2003 - 2005: Faculty studentship from the University of Stirling.
1999 - 2000: Erasmus scholarship for an exchange semester at UCL London's Department of Phonetics and Linguistics.
I teach on all aspects of typical lifespan anatomy, physiology and cognitive sciences that are relevant to our Speech and Language Therapy programmes.
Much of my teaching focusses on developing Students as Researchers (in line with the Higher Education Academy's framework). I oversee research-focussed learning activities from Level 1 through to final-year Honours and Masters projects.
