Sujeewa Hettiarachchi is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English. His research interests include theoretical syntax, adult second language acquisition, bilingualism & TESOL methods.

In the domain of syntax, Sujeewa is particularly interested in the syntax-information structure interface and case marking phenomena in Sinhala and other South Asian languages. His research in second language acquisition concerns the acquisition and real-time processing of syntax by adult second language speakers of English.

Some of his recent/current research projects include (i) a study on the relation between volitivity and subject case marking in Sinhala (with C.-T. Tim Chou; Taipei Medical University), (ii) the acquisition and processing of islands and binding constraints by Sinhala-English bilinguals (with Acrisio Pires, Julie Boland and Alan Ke; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), (iii) an experimental study on flipping in an ESL classroom (with Sarath Ananda) and (iv) information structure, case marking and wh-question formation in the Vedda creole spoken in Sri Lanka.

Sujeewa holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, an MA in TESOL from Eastern Michigan University and a BA (Hons) in English from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.

Recent Publications

Recent Presentations