Bust of Lincoln, Lincoln Hall
Bust of Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln Hall.
Photo Credit: Kalev Leetaru, 2004. Photographic Preservation Project.

WHAT WE DO

The Chin-Woo Kim Phonetics Laboratory supports research and teaching in the School of Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics. From helping undergrads learn how to use phonetics software to providing resources for faculty who wish to acquire data under controlled conditions, the Chin-Woo Kim Phonetics Laboratory is committed to broadening and disseminating knowledge about how linguistic sounds are produced, perceived, and patterned. Because the Lab is used by students and faculty from the Department of Linguistics as well as a number of foreign language departments, the research that goes on is linguistically diverse, as well.

WHO WE ARE

We are a linguistically diverse and empirically oriented group of faculty and student researchers from many academic units in the School of Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. An ever-growing group of faculty and graduate students is conducting research in the Lab. The Lab's resources are also open to undergraduate and graduate students taking phonetics-related courses in the School of Literatures, Culture, and Linguistics. 

WHERE WE ARE

The Lab is located in room G90 of the Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics Building (LCLB). Read about the fabled history and architecture of the Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics Building and learn more about the School of Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics, which has its home there.

Routine Activities

  • High-quality digital recording
  • Speech perception and production experiments
  • Speech aerodynamics
  • Electropalatography (EPG)
  • Ultrasound
  • Analysis of real-time magnetic resonance images collected at the Beckman Institute
  • Analysis of data collected in the field

Contact Information

History of the Lab

kim

 Upon receiving his Ph.D. from UCLA, Professor Chin Woo Kim arrived at the University of Illinois and established the Phonetics Lab in 1967. As in other labs established by students of Peter Ladefoged, research in the Illinois Phonetics Lab dealt with articulation, acoustics, and physiology using the latest instrumental techniques. Over fifty years later, we foster that same tradition.

In Fall 2007 Professor Ryan Shosted (a student of John Ohala, who was also a student of Peter Ladefoged) was hired as Assistant Professor of Linguistics and immediately began serving as the Director of the Phonetics Lab. Beginning on October 25, 2007 a major renovation project saw the recarpeting, repainting, and refurnishing of the lab. The sound booth remained in the same position it had occupied for at least 40 years. The computing and audio recording facilities were modernized and aerodynamic equipment was acquired for the first time.

two smiling men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lab was reopened to the public on November 14, 2007 and a formal open house was held on March 6, 2008. At this point, the facility was officially renamed the "Illinois Phonetics & Phonology Lab". Professor Shosted's Speech Aerodynamics Lab was housed in a small space next to G90 during this period.

Since 1967 the lab has been housed in G90 LCLB. However, with increased demand for the recording facilities and a proliferation of experimental techniques and instruments in phonetics and phonology, it became necessary for the lab to expand in size. In 2010, the lab was expanded to include an Articulatory Phonetics "wing", now housed in G84. This expansion includes a double-walled audiometric booth where EPG, ultrasound, and aerodynamic data can be collected.

In 2024, the lab was officially named the Chin-Woo Kim Phonetics Laboratory to recognize Dr. Kim's many contributions to the program. 

Ribbon Cutting at 2024 dedication ceremony
Dr. Kim at 2024 dedication ceremony
Photo by Darrel Hoemann (https://hoemannperronephoto.zenfolio.com/)

Support

The Chin-Woo Kim Phonetics & Phonology Lab is administered by the Department of Linguistics with generous support from:

Ryan Shosted's Speech Imaging Group uses the magnetic resonance imaging facilities at the Beckman Institute to understand the time-varying configuration of the vocal tract. Pictured (l-r) are: Zainab Hermes, Ryan Shosted, Sarah Johnson, Marissa Barlaz, and Shuju Shi.

mri machine