About Me
I grew up on the Atlantic in Scituate, MA, and now live on the Pacific in Santa Cruz, CA, after a brief stint in places without oceans (or sibilant onsets) during my undergrad at UMass Amherst.
I often get asked about the relationship between my given name, John, and the name I generally go by, Jack. According to Withycombe's Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, the use of Jack as a nickname is due to the English diminutive suffix -kin: Jan-kin first to Jackin via some funny business with French nasalization, and eventually shortened to Jack. More details here.
When I'm not being a linguist, I enjoy collecting, playing, and performing music.
Lighthouse Field State Beach in Santa Cruz, CA.
Scituate Lighthouse in Scituate, MA.