Dr. Jeff Tennant

Biography

Jeff Tennant is an Associate Professor in the Department of French Studies at Western University, where he specializes in phonetics and sociolinguistics. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in 1995 and has since focused on the linguistic features of French as spoken in Canada, particularly in relation to prosodic variation and language contact. His current research, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, explores the prosodic features of Ontario French in a SSHRC-funded project. Tennant has published numerous academic articles, including studies on dialect speech learning and the role of prosodic rhythm in different varieties of French. Beyond his research, he has held prominent administrative roles, serving as the Chief Negotiator for the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association and as Chair of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations' Collective Bargaining Committee. His contributions to academia have been recognized with awards such as the CAUT Distinguished Service Award and being named a Chevalier in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the Government of France. Furthermore, he was an invited professor at the University of Holguín in Cuba and has served as the Academic Convenor for the theme 'Bridging Divides: Confronting Colonialism and Anti-Black Racism' at a major academic congress.

Research Interests