Welcome to my website! My research explores how subtle language features shape people’s decision-making in various interpersonal, intercultural, health, and mediated contexts. I use methods such as experimental design, corpus analysis, content analysis, and computerized text analysis. My research has been funded by the National Social Science Foundation of China, the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, and Merck Pharmaceutical.

Language and Persuasive Health Message Design

Using discourse-analytic and experimental message design approaches, my first line of research explores the role of language in facilitating effective communication of health information and promoting wellness. My current projects examine the persuasive effects of linguistic and normative message influence strategies on raising people’s awareness of health issues in multilingual societies and across different languacultures. Some of the health contexts I have studied include educational fact sheets about antibiotic stewardship, public signs about COVID-19 prevention, and reminders on signing up for HPV vaccination. My work has been published in Applied Linguistics (2022), Health Communication (2023), and Pragmatics and Society (2023).

Prof. Matthew McGlone (University of Texas at Austin) and I are currently guest editing a special issue for Vaccines on Vaccination Strategies and Population Immunity. The submission deadline is June 30, 2025. Please consider submitting to our special issue.

Language and Interpersonal Communication

Drawing on insights from linguistic pragmatics and communication studies, my second line of research examines how interlocutors use linguistic (im)politeness and other metadiscourse markers to communicate social support and social influence in various interpersonal and intercultural contexts. My current projects examine how a strategic choice of these subtle linguistic features shapes recipients’ perceptions, intentions, and behaviors in face-to-face and mediated contexts. Some of the face-sensitive contexts I have studied include giving advice, responding to compliments, managing trolling, and performing ritual insults. My work has been published in Lingua (2021) and Text & Talk (2022).