Robert J. Bayley, professor of sociolinguistics, and Mark T. Leung,
assistant
professor of management science and statistics
Distinguished Achievement Awards: Robert J. Bayley and Mark T. Leung
(May 2, 2002)--Robert Bayley, professor of sociolinguistics in the Division of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies in the College of Education and Human Development, the winner of the 2002 President's Distinguished Achievement Award in Research.
Since his arrival at UTSA 11 years ago, Bayley has successfully pursued a focused research program that has established him as a leading international scholar in sociolinguistics. Through his work in language minority communities, he has contributed to the basic body of knowledge in this field in three specific ways.
He was among the first to apply the rigorous multivariate analytic procedures developed in sociolinguistics to studies of second language acquisition. His frequently cited work on variation in learner speech showed that such variation, like variation in native languages, is not random but is subject to multiple linguistic constraints, all of which must be accounted for in any adequate theory of second language acquisition.
His field-based research on language socialization in bilingual families in San Antonio and the San Francisco Bay Area breaks new ground in helping us understand processes of language socialization that lead to language maintenance or shift in bilingual communities. And, his expert use of original statistical techniques for the analysis of sociolinguistic variation has established him as a leading methodologist in this area.
The guide to the quantitative analysis of linguistic variation co-authored by Bayley is required reading in doctoral programs in sociolinguistics at major universities in the United States, Canada and England.
Bayley's scholarly work is prolific. During the last decade, he has co-authored two books, co-edited two more, published 20 articles in juried journals, 15 chapters in edited volumes and 13 book reviews and notices in major professional journals.
Cited by his peers as a pioneer in his discipline and a strong professional influence, Bayley is ranked among the top five variationists in the world today by leading sociolinguists.
He receives many requests to conduct workshops on research methodology as well as invitations to contribute book chapters and reviews.
He has established an enviable record in obtaining research funding, as well. In addition to several Fulbright awards during his career plus significant awards from the Spencer Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education, at UTSA he has received three faculty research awards, two grant development awards, two faculty development awards from the provost's office, seven grants from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and one grant from the College of Education and Human Development.
Throughout his career, Bayley has endeavored both to share his expertise and to promote the research of other scholars. His forthcoming co-edited volume, "Language Socialization in Bilingual and Multilingual Societies," features chapters by young scholars from Bolivia, Canada and the United States. He is also a frequent collaborator with UTSA students and colleagues.
He is the consummate scholar.
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Mark Leung, assistant professor of management science and statistics in the Department of Management Science and Statistics in the College of Business, is the winner of the 2002 Chancellor's Council Outstanding Teaching Award as part of the 2002 Faculty Honors Convocation.
In April 2000, Leung's article, "Forecasting stock indices: a comparison of classification and level estimation models," was published in the International Journal of Forecasting. It went on to be the journal's most cited article of the year. In it, Leung examines directional forecasting in the stock market. While most researchers try to forecast the exact number, Leung developed a model to predict whether the market would go up or down.
"It is like going to a casino and playing roulette," said Leung. "You can pick one specific number or you can pick one of two colors. It is a lot easier to win if you are just picking a color than trying to pick the correct number."
Leung developed a new set of trading rules using three leading stock indices. Using 25 years of data, he showed that he could consistently make 15-20 percent returns each year using his computerized model.
Response to his article was overwhelming. He received over 100 e-mails from individuals asking for the data sets and computer program. Included in this group was brokerage houses Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan and the Federal Reserve of Dallas and the Central Bank of England.
Leung joined UTSA's faculty in 1999. Last year he received the college's Col. Jean Migliorino and Lt. Col. Philip Piccione Endowed Faculty Award for Research Excellence.
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2002