Spencer Chen
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Spencer Chen received his Ph.D. in linguistic anthropology and M.A. in applied linguistics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2023 and B.A. in English literature and linguistics from National Taiwan University. His research investigates language ideologies, cultural production, and what happens when they intersect. With a regional focus on Taiwan, Chen studies how people use languages and visual cues to creatively present themselves and others in various settings, including media production, everyday interactions, and social media. Over the years, he has conducted longitudinal ethnographic research with voiceover professionals, fans of ACG (Animation, Comics, and Games), souvenir salespeople, indigenous Formosan elderlies, and netizens.
Research Interests
Linguistic anthropology; language ideologies; sociophonetics; conversation analysis; media; audiovisual creativity; creative industries; voice acting/dubbing; Sinophone; Taiwan; Japan
Select Publications
- Chen, S. 2022. "From Mandarin Monopoly to Sinitic Polypoly: The Story of Dubbing Peiyin in Postwar Taiwan." International Journal of Taiwan Studies 5(2): 308–331. DOI: .
- Lim, J., Chen, S., & Hiramoto M. 2021. "'You don’t ask me to speak Mandarin, okay?': Ideologies of language and race among Chinese Singaporeans." Language & Communication 76: 100–110. DOI: .
- Chen, S. 2018. "Visualizing language ideologies and verbalizing perceived linguistic boundaries: The case of Mandarin Chinese in contemporary Taiwan." Global Chinese 4(1): 11–36. DOI: .
Professional Affiliations
American Anthropological Association
Society for Linguistic Anthropology
Association for Asian Studies
International Pragmatics Association
Linguistic Society of America
Appointed to the Faculty
2023Educational Background
Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
M.A., University of California, Los Angeles
B.A., National Taiwan University
