Lizzy Hanks

Linguistics Researcher and Communication Educator

Lizzy Hanks is a linguistics researcher and communication educator based in Tampa, Florida. Lizzy uses corpus methods to research conversation, pragmatics, and vocabulary, and shares content on these topics on social media @lana_linguistics. She also has six years of previous experience teaching English as a second language in Austria, Thailand and the US. Lizzy is an Assistant Professor in the World Language Department at the University of South Florida.

Education

  • PhD, Applied Linguistics, Northern Arizona University
  • MA, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Northeastern Illinois University
  • BA, Linguistics, Brigham Young University

Professional Achievements

  • Over 20 peer-reviewed linguistics articles
  • Over 60 professional talks on language and communication, including 20 invited talks and lectures
  • Featured in international podcasts, blogs, and news articles
  • Forthcoming books on conversation and vocabulary

Certifications & Organizations

  • Member of the American Association of Applied Linguistics
  • Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Favorite Piece of Advice

Language is so much more than just sharing information. Our interactions also help us build meaningful connections by (explicitly or implicitly) conveying our ideas and opinions, feelings, community, desires, and sense of self.

wikiHow's Editorial Process wikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.

Co-authored Articles (8)

Words Pronounced Differently Across the US

Which pronunciation of these everyday words do you use?If you hear someone say a word differently than you’re used to, it might be based on where they’re from and what regional accent they have. While it might seem l...

75+ Popular Midwestern-isms (with Examples)

Only folks from the Midwest will understand these slang wordsAh, the Midwest, also known as America’s Heartland: it’s all cheese, miles of rolling cornfields, and lots of people who say “Ope!” (That’s Midwester...

60+ California Lingo & Slang Words: From SoCal to NorCal

Learn surfer slang and Bay Area lingo to blend in with the Cali crowdWhether you’re visiting California or you’ve just moved there, you’ll quickly notice that locals use their fair share of slang. It’s not quite ...

150+ Sophisticated Words to Sound More Eloquent & Intelligent

Boost your academic & professional vocabulary with advanced wordsWords are the bricks used to build language, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and syllables. Some are short and sweet, like “yes,” while others feel...

42 Super Weird English Words You've Probably Never Heard Of

Broaden your vernacular with these strange and wacky English wordsThe English language is full of unique, uncommon, and silly-sounding words to explore. For example, have you ever heard of the term lollygagging? Or, perh...

100+ Slang Words and Phrases Popular with Real New Yorkers

Fuhgeddaboutit! All this slang will have you talking like a localNew York, New York. The city so nice they named it twice. The Big Apple has a vibrant, dynamic culture, and hot slang tends to come in and out of style… ...

70+ Words and Phrases to Have You Speaking Southern

Dig into the rich and vibrant culture of the SouthHey y'all! If you're interested in the culture of the Southern United States and want to learn some colorful and funny Southern slang, you've come to the right place. Sou...

A Complete Guide to the Top Boston Slang Words & Phrases

Blend in as a Beantown townie with this Massachusetts slang glossaryThrow on your Big Papi jersey and grab your Dunkin iced coffee…we’re headed to Boston! But even if you look like a native Bostonian, how can you ''s...