Kenneth S. Olson
Degrees
- Ph.D., Linguistics, University of Chicago, 2001
- M.A., Linguistics, University of Texas, Arlington, 1991
- B.S., Electrical and Electronics Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1986
Current positions
- International Linguistics Consultant (2011–)
Other experience
- Associate International Linguistics Coordinator, SIL International. (2003–2010)
- Linguistics teaching
- University of North Dakota (1997, 2006). Phonology 2, Readings in Historical Linguistics.
- Northwest Christian College (2002, 2005). Introduction to Phonology, Advanced Phonology.
- Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (2004). Seminar in Applied Linguistics: Tone.
- Faculté de Théologie Évangélique de Bangui (2001–2004). Introduction à la linguistique, Analyse phonologique, Sémantique et pragmatique, Outils informatiques de la traduction.
- SIL European Training Programme (2003). Shoebox.
- University of Oregon (1999–2000). Intermediate phonology.
- Cours d’Introduction à la Linguistique, Lamorlaye, France (1995). Introduction à la phonologie.
- Fieldwork in Mono language, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Electrical Engineer, Mayo Foundation (1986–1989)
Memberships
- Linguistic Society of America
- International Phonetic Association
- Acoustical Society of America
Language proficiency
- English
- French
- German
- Lingala
- Mono
Research interests
- Mono language (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Phonological theory
- Articulatory and acoustic phonetics
- Historical linguistics
- Language documentation
Selected publications
Publications in SIL International Bibliography
Olson, Kenneth S. 2009. SIL International: An emic view. Language 85(3):646–652.
Olson, Kenneth S. 2005. The phonology of Mono. Dallas: SIL. Publication 140 in the series, Publications in Linguistics, SIL International and The University of Texas at Arlington.
Olson, Kenneth S. 2006. On Niger-Congo classification. In The Bill question, edited by Howard I. Aronson, Donald L. Dyer, Victor A. Friedman, Daniela S. Hristova & Jerrold M. Sadock. Bloomington, IN: Slavica.
Olson, Kenneth S. & John Hajek. 1999. The phonetic status of the labial flap. Journal of the International Phonetic Association 29(2): 101–114.
Olson, Kenneth S. & John Hajek. 2003. Crosslinguistic insights on the labial flap. Linguistic Typology 7(2): 157–186.
Olson, Kenneth S., Jeff Mielke, Josephine Sanicas-Daguman, Carol Jean Pebley & Hugh J. Paterson III. 2010. The phonetic status of the (inter)dental approximant. Journal of the International Phonetic Association 40(2): 199–215.
Simons, Gary F., Kenneth S. Olson & Paul Frank. 2007. Ngbugu digital wordlist: A test case for best practices in archiving and presenting language documentation. Linguistic Discovery 5(1): 28–39.
Selected papers presented
Olson, Kenneth S. (with Christine A. Keating). 2010. Crosslinguistic insights on bilabial trill genesis. Paper presented at the 84th Linguistic Society of America annual meeting, January, in Baltimore, Maryland.
———. (with D. Will Reiman). 2009. The voiced linguolabial plosive in Kajoko (Guinea-Bissau). Paper presented at the 45th Regional Meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society, April, in Chicago.
———. (with Jeff Mielke). 2008. Acoustic properties of the interdental approximant in Kagayanen. Paper presented at Acoustics ’08, June–July, in Paris.
———. (with Jeff Mielke). 2007. Articulation of the Kagayanen interdental approximant: An ultrasound study. Paper presented at the 81st Linguistic Society of America annual meeting, January, in Anaheim, California.
———. (with David Morgan). 2005. Tone shift in Lobala. Paper presented at the 36th Annual Conference on African Linguistics, April, in Savannah, Georgia.
———. 2004. Acoustic correlates of the labial flap. Paper presented at the 78th Linguistic Society of America annual meeting, January, in Boston.
———. 2003. Word minimality and non-surface-apparent opacity in Mono. Paper presented at the Fourth World Congress of African Linguistics, June, in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
———. (with Paul Schultz). 2001. Can [sonorant] spread? Paper presented at the 75th Linguistic Society of America annual meeting, January, in Washington, DC.
———. (with Brian E. Schrag). 1997. An overview of Mono phonology. Paper presented at the Second World Congress on African Linguistics, July–August, in Leipzig, Germany.
———. 1996. On the comparison and classification of Banda dialects. Paper presented at the 32nd Regional Meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society, April, in Chicago.