Welcome to my website! I explore 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 Research Grants Council of Hong Kong. My publications appear in top journals such as Applied Linguistics, Health Communication, and Journal of Pragmatics.

Language and Persuasive Health Message Design

Using discourse-analytic and experimental message design approaches, my first line of research examines 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. My current projects focus on using multiple messaging strategies to promote HPV vaccination and reduce alcohol consumption intentions.

Language and Interpersonal Influence

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’ attitudes and behaviors in face-to-face and mediated contexts.

Generative AI in Higher Education

As a university instructor, I also critically reflect on the role of generative AI in higher education. Drawing on theories in linguistic pragmatics, communication studies, and psychology, I am especially interested in examining how students’ quality of learning and well-being are shaped by the various ways they interact with Generative AI, such as their linguistic choices and communicative contexts.