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Peter Jenks is an associate professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley. His primary focus is on syntactic theory, particularly concerning cross-linguistic variation, noun phrases, and the interface between syntax, semantics, and phonology. His interests also extend to the syntax-semantics interface, where he explores topics such as definiteness, quantification, and relative clauses. Jenks has conducted significant work on the syntax-phonology interface, analyzing how morpho-syntactic structures influence phonological processes. He teaches courses in syntax, semantics, typology, and fieldwork, with a particular focus on languages in East and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Throughout his career, he has cultivated a deep interest in tonal languages, and his dissertation focused on Thai. Additionally, he has worked on the Moro language, a Kordofanian language spoken in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, co-developing the Moro Story Corpus and publishing a descriptive grammar of Moro. In recognition of his teaching excellence, he was awarded the UC Berkeley Distinguished Teacher award in 2023.
The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.