Learnability
How does computational complexity shape the learnability of tonal patterns? I study learnability using experimental and computational approaches.
Linguistics · Rutgers University
Zijing Xu
徐子静
PhD student in Linguistics, Fall 2026
Research Interests Phonology · Language Acquisition · Computational Linguistics
About me
I am a PhD student in Linguistics at Rutgers University. My work sits at the intersection of phonology, language acquisition, and computational linguistics.
Broadly speaking, I’m deeply curious about the nature of phonological generalizations and the cognitive mechanisms underlying human language learning. I draw on theoretical, experimental and computational methods.
- Emailzijing.xu0323@rutgers.edu
- LanguagesMandarin (native), English (fluent), Cantonese & Spanish (basic)
Research
Loanword phonology
I investigate how English prosodic structure is adapted in Mandarin loanwords, with particular attention to stress-to-tone mapping.
Language acquisition
My previous research experience includes infant behavioral and EEG studies of phonological learning.
Selected work
Manuscript in preparation
The Impact of Computational Complexity on Learning Tonal Patterns
Xu, Z., Ou, M., Li, C., Kwong, K., & Lai, R.
Manuscript in preparation
Stress-to-tone Mapping of English Polysyllabic Loanwords in Mandarin
Xu, Z., & Lai, R.
Conference paper · 2026
Stress-to-tone Mapping of English Polysyllabic Loanwords in Mandarin
Xu, Z., & Lai, R. Proceedings of the Hanyang International Symposium on Phonetics and Cognitive Sciences of Language 2026.