About Me | Noah Michael Coen

I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California-Los Angeles, where I am funded in part by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF DGE-2034835). Proud user of double modal constructions. (Obviously, the previous two sentences are of equal importance.)

In 2021, I graduated with B.A.’s in Linguistics, Eurasian Studies, and Russian from the University of Oklahoma, where I was a National Merit Scholar and Global Engagement Fellow. More information can be found in my Curriculum Vitae.

I study the intersection of compositional and lexical semantics through the lens of diachrony, cognition, and computation. I am particularly interested in polysemy, ambiguity, and adpositions. You can find more information on my Research Interests page.

In addition to linguistics (and often in tandem with it), I have deep-seated interests in global affairs and sociocultural anthropology. I am especially interested in language policy, multilingualism, and language attitudes. This page would be painfully incomplete were I not to mention my love of music.

I am also committed to reducing ablism via education about (often invisible) disabilities and advocating for policies that expand accessibility.

If I am not thinking, reading, or writing about linguistics, I am likely thinking, reading, or writing about one of the topics discussed above; reading cheesy fiction; learning a language; working towards health goals; watching cheesy movies; or—my personal favorite—spending time with the people I love.