Principal areas of interest: language theory of the nineteenth century in England; literature from late eighteenth- to early nineteenth century; theories of discourse (Bakhtin School; Foucault); politics of language theory. Publications reflect a primary interest in using the aesthetic to interrogate the cultural politics of discourses in contemporaneous non-literary writings on language theory. The focus is on the period running from the influence of John Horne Tooke's 'The Diversions of Purley' at the end of the eighteenth century, through to preparations for publication of the N/OED at the end of the nineteenth century. Analysing the re-presentation of highly contentious and ideologically-saturated discourses of the period in literary texts facilitates a re-reading of the discursive constituency of writings on language. My work demonstrates that the discourses themselves were the stake in political struggles that took particular form in the cultural sphere. I am currently supervising doctoral work on Gerard Manley Hopkins, Sacrifice, and 19thC language theory. I welcome applications from those looking to engage in doctoral work in any aspect of language theory in the period outlined above, and particularly with reference to 1820-50, and the political and cultural discourses of Chartist writings (aesthetic and non-literary).