My research spans three interconnected areas:

• Computational Linguistics: I develop interpretable models of phonological learning, focusing on how structured representations (e.g., autosegmental graphs) shape what can be learned from limited data.

• Phonetics–Phonology Interface: I investigate how acoustic and perceptual patterns interact with abstract phonological representations, combining experimental methods and formal analysis to study the relationship between gradient speech behavior and phonological structure.

Together, these strands aim to build a unified account of how tone and prosodic structure are represented, learned, and realized across both typical and atypical speech.

Publications

• Li, H. & Heinz. J (under review) Learning tonotactics with autosegmental representations, Phonology, 2026

• Li, H. & Heinz, J. (2026). What matters in tonotactic learning. Proceedings of the Society for Computation in Linguistics (SCiL). Accepted.

• Li, H (2025) Learning Tonotactic Patterns over Autosegmental Representations PDF

• 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. What Matters in Tonotactic Learning SCiL, 2026

• Li, H. & Heinz, J. 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.