Han Li

Han Li

Stony Brook University

Hi there!

I am a PhD student in the Department of Linguistics at Stony Brook University. I am also affiliated with the Institute for Advanced Computational Science. I work with Jeffrey Heinz and Ellen Broselow. My research interest is primary in tone languages. Specifically, these questions include:

  • tonal representation and autosegmental theory
  • interaction between tone and intonation/segments
  • production and perception of tones
  • computational model of tonotactics and tonal processes

Before Stony Brook, I got my master degree from Nanhang University (Nanjing, China) in 2021. My master thesis investigated the phonetic cues of rhetorical questions in Mandarin. Additionally, I have conducted field studies in the Northwest of China, engaging with diverse dialects/languages such as Uyghur in Xinjiang, China and Lanzhou in Gansu China. Some other languages that I was interested in include Wu dialects (Southeastern China), Cantonese, Hokkein, Hausa (west Africa)

My Chinese name is 李晗 (lǐ hán) where lǐ is my family name meaning “plum” and hán is my given name meaning “dawn”. I was born and raised in Turpan, Xinjiang. The word Turpan means “the lowest place” in Uyghur, referring to its location at the lowest altitude in China and the second lowest in the world (after the Dead Sea). I grew up in a community where Mandarin, Uyghur, Kazakh, Sichuan, Shanghainese were all spoken.

Publications

  • Li, H. & Heinz. J (under review) Learning tonotactics with autosegmental representations, Phonology, 2025

  • Yi, L., Li, H., Li, Y., & Mu, J. (2024). An ongoing tonal-pattern change: Lanzhou dialect. Journal of Chinese Linguistics, 52_(2), 336–361.[PDF]

  • Li, H. (2021). Prosodic Differences between Rhetorical Questions and Information-seeking Questions in Mandarin. ICU Working Papers in Linguistics (ICUWPL) , (15), 45-52. [PDF]

Presentations

  • Li, H. & Heinz, J. (Accepted for full talk). Comparing tonotactic learning over strings and autosegmental representations. Paper to be presented at the Old World Conference in Phonology (OCP 23)

  • Li, H. Learning tonotactics over autosegmental representations. Invited talk at the Phonology Group, Oct 2025, Yale University, New Haven, CT.

  • Li, H. Understanding tones in language: Patterns, representations, and insights. Student Seminar, Institute for Advanced Computational Science,Oct 2025,Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

  • Li, H. Learning tonal patterns. (Lightning Talk) Institute for Advanced Computational Science Research Day, June 2025, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

  • Li, H. Learning tonotactic patterns over autosegmental representations. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting on Phonology (AMP), Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

  • Li, H. (2024). Bottom-Up Factor Induction Algorithm (BUFIA). (Joint session with Logan Swanson and Sarah Payne) Rutgers Subregular Phonology Workshop, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

  • Li, H. (2022). The Q-morpheme in Hausa. Paper presented at the 35th Annual Conference on African Linguistics (ACAL 35), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT.

  • Li, H. (2022). The Q-morpheme in Hausa. Linguistics Brown Bag Presentation, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.

  • Li, H. (2020). Prosodic differences between rhetorical and information-seeking questions in Mandarin. Paper presented at the 5th Asian Junior Linguists Conference (AJL 5), International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan (online).

  • Li, H. (2020). Syntactic distribution and prosodic features of rhetorical questions in Mandarin. Paper presented at the 8th International Academic Conference for Graduates (IACGN 8), Nanjing, China.

  • Li, H. (2019). Attenuation and boosting of complaints in Chinese computer-mediated communication. Paper presented at the 7th International Academic Conference for Graduates (IACGN 7), Nanjing, China.

Teaching

Primary Instructor

  • LIN101 Introduction to Linguistics
  • LIN307/542 Sociolinguistics

Teaching Assistant

  • LIN110 Anatomy of English
  • LIN220 English Grammar
  • LIN380 Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing
  • LIN350 Experimental Phonetics
  • LIN201 Phonetics
  • LIN301 Phonology
  • LIN361/539 Math Methods
  • LIN430 Uncommonly Taught Languages (Hausa)

📜 CV

Please click here to view my most updated CV.