Sean’s domain of specialization in linguistics is morphosyntax – the study of the structure and function of words and sentences. He teaches an advanced grammar course ( L4/560 Morphosyntax II), a course addressing in-depth topics in morphosyntax (L660 Topics in Morphology and Syntax), a course exploring the range of formal and functional models within linguistics (L650 Survey of Linguistic Theories), and a course in academic writing for linguistics (L685 Academic Writing in Linguistics).
Sean and Lezlie’s passion is to see God’s Word available to every people group in an understandable and accessible form. They enjoy the opportunity at CanIL to prepare future translators/linguists for their roles within the global Bible translation movement. Sean says, “By God’s grace, I’m excited to play a small role in seeing ‘a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.’ (Rev. 7:9)”
2007–2012. Completion of Ph.D. in Linguistics at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Dissertation title: Aspects of a Grammar of Makary Kotoko (Chadic, Cameroon)
1996–1997. Completion of D.E.A. (diplôme d’études approfondies - indepth studies diploma) in Linguistics, Université Marc Bloch, Strasbourg, France. Thesis title: Une étude comparative du [ɹ] anglo-américain et du [ʀ] français dans les positions post-pausales accentuées : Vers une phonétique acoustique corrective
1992–1993. Completion of maîtrise (“Masters”) in Linguistics, Université Marc Bloch, Strasbourg, France
1991–1992. Completion of licence (“Bachelor’s degree”) in Linguistics, Université Marc Bloch, Strasbourg, France
1989–1991. Completion of D.E.U.G. (diplôme d’études universitaires générales - general university studies diploma) in Linguistics, Université Marc Bloch, Strasbourg, France
1988–1989. Completion of the Certificat Pratique de Langue Française (Practical Certificate of the French Language) and the Diplôme d’Etudes Françaises (French Studies Diploma), Institut International d’Etudes Françaises, Strasbourg, France
2015–Present. Sessional Associate Professor of French at Trinity Western University
2012–Present. Associate Professor of Linguistics at Trinity Western University
1998–Present. Ongoing work in a language development project (linguistic analysis, literacy, translation) for a Central Chadic B language (Makary Kotoko (mpade)) in Cameroon, Africa under the auspices of SIL Cameroon
1998–2013. Instructional staff member for several national-level SIL sponsored language development courses (orthography design, grammatical analysis, semantic analysis, discourse features, literature production, translation principles, basic computer skills) in Cameroon and Chad. Course instruction given in French.
1998–2006. Course director and instructor for 6 village-level SIL sponsored language development courses in northern Cameroon. Course instruction given in French.
2001–Present. Coordinator for SIL Cameroon language development work for Kotoko languages
1995–Present. Member of Wycliffe Bible Translators and SIL
Spring 2011. Graduate Part-time Instructor Teaching Excellence award, Graduate school of the University of Colorado at Boulder
2020. A Grammar of Makary Kotoko (Grammars and Sketches of the World’s Languages, Volume 12). Brill:Leiden.
2020. (co-authors: Henry Tourneux & Adam Mahamat). Bibliographie Kotoko – Kotoko Bibliography. Online manuscript available at kotokoresources.net.
2020. The notion of ‘word’ in Makary Kotoko. In Alexandra Aikhenvald & R.M.W. Dixon & Nathan White (eds.), Phonological word and grammatical word. Oxford University Press: Oxford. pp. 260–284.
2017. Conditional constructions in Makary Kotoko. Studies in African Linguistics 46. 33–49.
2017. Borrowings but no diffusion: A case of language contact in the Lake Chad basin. Journal of Language Contact 10. 395–421.
2015. Advocating for a Merged Approach to Bible Translation. Paper submitted to Bible Translation 2015: The 8th Biennial Bible Translation Conference, Dallas, Texas, Oct 16–20, 2015.
2013. Abécédaire provisoire du kotoko de Kousseri (mser). SIL ms.
2013. Kousseri Kotoko Provisional Lexicon. SIL ms, 22pp.
2012. Abécédaire du kotoko de Makari (mpade). SIL ms.
2012. Aspects of a Grammar of Makary Kotoko (Chadic, Cameroon). Boulder, CO: University of Colorado at Boulder PhD dissertation. 606pp.
2009. Derivation of the Person-Aspect-Mood System of Makary Kotoko. in E. Rothmaler, Ed.Topics In Chadic Linguistics V. Comparative and Descriptive Studies. Papers from the 4th Biennial International Colloquium on the Chadic Languages, Bayreuth, October 30–31, 2007. 2009, Rüdiger Köppe: Köln. Coll. Chadic Linguistics, Vol. 6, p. 9–21.
2007. Linguistic Evidence for the Islamization of the Makary Kotoko by the Kanuri. in H. Tourneux, Ed. Topics In Chadic Linguistics III. Historical Studies. Papers from the 3rd Biennial International Colloquium on the Chadic Languages, Villejuif, November 24–25, 2005. 2007, Rüdiger Köppe: Köln. Coll. Chadic Linguistics, Vol. 4, p. 9–25.
2006. Borrowings in Makary Kotoko. SIL ms. 110 pp.
2006. Alphabet et orthographe de Kotoko de Makary (mpade) (Makary Kotoko Orthography Statement). SIL ms. 31pp.
2006. Livret d’introduction à l’orthographe de la langue kotoko parlée aux alentours de la ville de Makary (mpade) (Makary Kotoko Transition Primer). SIL ms. 64pp.
2003. Makary Kotoko Provisional Lexicon. SIL ms. 58pp.
Special Workshop: ‘Word’: its manifestations and functions. Language and Culture Research Centre, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia, Oct. 3–4, 2018 (paper given).
9th Biennial Bible Translation conference (Bible Translation 2017), Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, Dallas, Texas, Oct. 13–17, 2017 (paper given).
47th Annual Conference on African Linguistics (ACAL 47), University of California, Berkeley, March 23–26, 2016 (paper given).
8th Biennial Bible Translation conference (Bible Translation 2015), Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, Dallas, Texas, Oct 16–20, 2015 (paper given).
46th Annual Conference on African Linguistics (ACAL 46), Oregon University, Eugene, Oregon, March 26–28, 2015 (paper given)1st Global Linguistics Forum (GLiF), Vajta, Hungary, Aug. 16–20, 2010.
4th Biennial International Colloquium on the Chadic Languages (BICCL 4), Bayreuth, Germany, Oct. 30–31, 2007 (paper given).
3rd Biennial International Colloquium on the Chadic Languages (BICCL 3), Villejuif, France, Nov. 24–25, 2005 (paper given).
4th World Congress of African Linguistics (WOCAL 4) and 34th Annual Conference on African Linguistics (ACAL 34), Rutgers University, New Jersey, June 17–22, 2003.
French High proficiency in speaking, writing and reading
Makary Kotoko Good proficiency in speaking, writing and reading
NT Greek Good proficiency in reading the NT Greek text
LING–LIN 4/560 Morphosyntax II
LING–LIN 650 Survey of Linguistic Theories
LING–LIN 660 Topics in Morphology & Syntax
LING 685 Academic Writing in Linguistics
FREN 380 Phonétique et prononciation
FREN 360 Grammaire française avancée
FREN 305, 306 Langue écrite et orale
FREN 111, 112 Intermediate French
FREN 101, 102 Introduction to French
