Roy Becker-Kristal's Homepage

Roy Becker-Kristal	רועי בקר-קריסטל
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I am a third-year graduate student in the linguistics department at UCLA. I am Israeli, and like many Israeli linguists, I got my BA in the linguistics department at Tel-Aviv University. My studies in this Chomskyan-Generativist department focused mostly on theoretical phonology, but I also took many courses in syntax, language acquisition and historical linguistics (and other topics). However, I gradually found myself more and more inclined towards the phonology-phonetic interface, experimental approach to linguistics and functionalism. So, unlike many Israeli linguists, I usually disagree with Chomsky, both theoretically and politically. After obtaining my BA (single major, summa cum laude) in late 2001, I spent a bit more than a year in Dublin, Ireland, pursuing MA studies in the linguistics department at University College Dublin. During my studies there I delved into acoustic and perceptual phonetics, and my MLitt thesis tried to explain certain historical developments in the phonology of Irish by auditory perceptual mechanisms, whose effect emerged in a series of perceptual experiments I conducted. Back in Israel in early 2003 with the MLitt degree (recommended with distinction), I did some other things for a few years, including working as a phonetic analyst in a speech-technology company, for which I give occasional consultancy to this day. I also read a lot of phonetic literature, just for the sake of general knowledge and fun (I totally recommend this to wannabe-scholars). Eventually it was time to go back to school and get a PhD, and in early 2006 I somehow found myself here at UCLA. Since then I have been mostly busy doing coursework and independent research, focusing on theoretical and experimental phonetics, and some experimental phonology as well. No complaints so far. I truly believe that the ultimate goal in life is to be happy and content. Life is too short and you never know what will happen tomorrow, but most likely it won't differ much from today. So, in short: Live the day, but not as if it were your last one! This moto seems to be working fine for me so far.

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I am a third-year graduate student in the linguistics department at UCLA.

I am Israeli, and like many Israeli linguists, I got my BA in the linguistics department at Tel-Aviv University. My studies in this Chomskyan-Generativist department focused mostly on theoretical phonology, but I also took many courses in syntax, language acquisition and historical linguistics (and other topics). However, I gradually found myself more and more inclined towards the phonology-phonetic interface, experimental approach to linguistics and functionalism. So, unlike many Israeli linguists, I usually disagree with Chomsky, both theoretically and politically.

After obtaining my BA (single major, summa cum laude) in late 2001, I spent a bit more than a year in Dublin, Ireland, pursuing MA studies in the linguistics department at University College Dublin. During my studies there I delved into acoustic and perceptual phonetics, and my MLitt thesis tried to explain certain historical developments in the phonology of Irish by auditory perceptual mechanisms, whose effect emerged in a series of perceptual experiments I conducted.

Back in Israel in early 2003 with the MLitt degree (recommended with distinction), I did some other things for a few years, including working as a phonetic analyst in a speech-technology company, for which I give occasional consultancy to this day. I also read a lot of phonetic literature, just for the sake of general knowledge and fun (I totally recommend this to wannabe-scholars).

Eventually it was time to go back to school and get a PhD, and in early 2006 I somehow found myself here at UCLA. Since then I have been mostly busy doing coursework and independent research, focusing on theoretical and experimental phonetics, and some experimental phonology as well. No complaints so far.

I truly believe that the ultimate goal in life is to be happy and content. Life is too short and you never know what will happen tomorrow, but most likely it won't differ much from today. So, in short: Live the day, but not as if it were your last one! This moto seems to be working fine for me so far.