The descriptive dialectology, dialect geography of the Arabic language; historical linguistics of Arabic, in particular syntactic and semantic issues in Egyptian dialects. Teaching Arabic as a foreign language, colloquial first
Elected 2017
The literary and religious heritage of Turkic peoples in Central Asia between the 8th and 14th centuries; edition of Old Uyghur texts of various contents; studies on literature and religion based on these materials
The social and cultural history of China from the Qing through to the present, especially rural north China, links between transnational and local history, religion, diplomacy and revolution
Historical anthropology of religion, social-political systems and livelihoods, especially with reference to Indian caste inequality and activism, religious pluralism (Hindu and Christian) and common property resources; the anthropology of knowledge, institutions and international development.