Overview
Background
Dr Rob Pensalfini received his PhD in theoretical linguistics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1997, with research based on his fieldwork in the Barkly Tableland of Australia's Northern Territory. He then worked as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago for two years prior to commencing as a Lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Queensland in 1999. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in Linguistics and Drama in 2003, and to Associate Professor in 2016. He has published several books and numerous articles in both linguistics and drama, including ground-breaking work on the performance of Shakespeare in prisons. He leads Australia's only ongoing Prison Shakespeare program and is the Artistic Director of the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble.
Availability
- Associate Professor Rob Pensalfini is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, University of Western Australia
- Doctor of Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research interests
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Australian languages
The structure and use of Australia's indigenous languages, particularly morphology, phonology and syntax. Language documentation and description. Language endangerment and maintenance.
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Prison Shakespeare
The performance or study of Shakespeare's dramatic works in prisons, typically faciliated by external artists. The impacts and challenges of such projects and the history and development of the phenomenon.
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Shakespeare in Performance
Particularly in Australia.
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Actor training
Use of the voice and body in acting. Performing rhetoric and verse.
Works
Search Professor Rob Pensalfini’s works on UQ eSpace
2000
Conference Publication
Optional disagreement and the case for feature hierarchies
Pensalfini, R. J. (2000). Optional disagreement and the case for feature hierarchies. The Chicago Linguistics Society's 35th Meeting, Chicago, University of Chicago, 22-24 April, 1999. Chicago Linguistics Society.
2000
Journal Article
Hyperventilation in actor training and the myth of 'Oxygenation'
Pensalfini, R. J. (2000). Hyperventilation in actor training and the myth of 'Oxygenation'. Australian Voice, 6, 37-40.
2000
Journal Article
Pineapple as voice remedy: alternative or mainstream?
Winkworth, A., Pensalfini, R. J. and Baldock, P. (2000). Pineapple as voice remedy: alternative or mainstream?. Australian Voice, 6, 16-18.
1999
Other Outputs
Case Suffixes as Discourse Markers in Jingulu
Pensalfini, Rob (1999). Case Suffixes as Discourse Markers in Jingulu.
1999
Journal Article
The rise of case suffixes as discourse markers in Jingulu -- a case study of innovation in an obsolcent language
Pensalfini, R. J. (1999). The rise of case suffixes as discourse markers in Jingulu -- a case study of innovation in an obsolcent language. Australian journal of linguistics, 19 (2), 225-240.
1999
Conference Publication
Suffix Coherence and Stress in Australian Languages
Pensalfini, R. J. (1999). Suffix Coherence and Stress in Australian Languages. 1999 Annual Confernce of the Australian Lingiustics Society, University of Western Australia, Perth, 28th September - 2nd October, 1999. Perth, WA: Australian Linguistics Society.
1998
Conference Publication
The Development of (Apparently) Onsetless Syllabification: A Constraint-Based Approach
Pensalfini, Rob (1998). The Development of (Apparently) Onsetless Syllabification: A Constraint-Based Approach. Chicago Linguistics Society Annual Meeting 1998, Chicago, 1998.
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Rob Pensalfini is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
A Grammatical Description of Mujawirun Arabic
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ilana Mushin
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Doctor Philosophy
Paradigm Shift: A Theoretical and Descriptive Study of Mudburra-Kriol Contact
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Felicity Meakins
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Doctor Philosophy
Acquisition of English Tense-aspect system by native Arabic speakres of English
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anna Mikhaylova
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Doctor Philosophy
The Productivity of Polish Yers: An Experimental Investigation Informed by the Lexicon
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Roland Sussex
Completed supervision
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2019
Master Philosophy
Verbal morphology and syntax of Mudburra: An Australian Aboriginal Language of the Northern Territory
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Felicity Meakins
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2018
Master Philosophy
The Nature of Engagement of Audiences in Prison Theatre: a case study of the Shakespeare Prison Project
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Joanne Tompkins
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Noun Phrases in Urban Hijazi Arabic: A Distributed Morphology Approach
Principal Advisor
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2006
Master Philosophy
SUZUKI AND BEYOND: ADAPTING THE SUZUKI ACTOR TRAINING METHOD
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Richard Fotheringham
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
TYPOLOGY OF PERIPHRASTIC 'DO'- CONSTRUCTIONS
Principal Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Morphosyntactic and Semantic Properties of Hijazi Arabic Modals
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ilana Mushin
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Arabic emphatics and gutturals: a phonetic and phonological study
Associate Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
A hubterranean view of syntax: An analysis of linguistic form through network theory
Associate Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
THE TONAL CONSTRAINTS ON VIETNAMESE LEARNERS' PERCEPTION AND PRODUCTION OF ENGLISH STRESS
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Rob Pensalfini directly for media enquiries about:
- Acting
- Acting and speech
- Australian Aboriginal languages
- Indigenous Australian languages
- Language and theatre
- Language endangerment
- Language maintenance
- Linguistics
- Prison theatre
- Shakespeare
- Speech and actors
- Theatre - language, acting, directing
- Theatre and language
- Theatre directing
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