# Focused Research Guidance

Graduate Mentorship For Bilingual Research

Build a clearer research path with thoughtful guidance in bilingual communication sciences and phonology.

Receive focused support for the next meaningful step in your bilingual research.
A More Personal Way to Shape Your Research
This mentorship session gives you dedicated space to discuss a research question, project direction, study design, or interpretation challenge. I listen closely to where your work stands and help identify practical ways to strengthen its focus and coherence. The conversation is shaped around your goals rather than a fixed template.
You will leave with clearer priorities and a more grounded understanding of your options. We can examine the relationship between your question, participants, methods, and analysis while keeping the linguistic and cultural dimensions of bilingual communication in view. The session supports your development as an independent researcher without taking ownership of your work.
Ideal For
Graduate students forming a research questionResearchers refining a bilingual study designStudents interpreting phonological or communication dataWriters seeking a clearer academic direction
How It Works
Share Your Focus: Describe your project, question, or current research challenge.Explore The Options: Discuss relevant concepts, methods, and possible next steps.Leave With Direction: Identify practical priorities for continuing your work.

- Research mentorship

## About

I am Leah Fabiano, PhD, principal investigator of The Bilingual Phonology Lab at the University of Pittsburgh. I lead a collaborative research community focused on bilingual speech and language, with particular attention to children and families whose needs are often overlooked. Through rigorous scholarship, mentorship, and meaningful partnerships, I help develop knowledge that can strengthen assessment and intervention while preparing the next generation of researchers and clinicians to serve multilingual communities.

## Services

- [Bilingual Research](https://getbilingual-fablab.com/services/bilingual-speech-research.md): I conduct research on bilingual speech and language development.
- [Speech Assessment Studies](https://getbilingual-fablab.com/services/bilingual-speech-assessment.md): I study speech sound impairments in bilingual children.
- [Our Values](https://getbilingual-fablab.com/services/phonology-research-talks.md): Here in the BPL we hold certain values contant and at the core of our research program.
- **The Bilingual Child, LLC**: I provide bilingual speech and phonology support for children.

## FAQ

### What is bilingual phonology?

Bilingual phonology examines how people who use two or more languages learn, organize, and produce speech sounds. It considers the sound systems of each language and how they may interact during communication development.

### How can language differences be distinguished from speech sound difficulties?

A language difference reflects the normal influence of a person's languages, while a speech sound difficulty may affect communication beyond expected patterns. Careful assessment considers both languages, cultural context, development, and the individual's communication needs.

### Why is it important to consider both languages in an evaluation?

Looking at both languages provides a more complete understanding of a bilingual person's communication skills. It helps professionals avoid mistaking typical cross-language patterns for a disorder and supports more appropriate recommendations.

### Who can benefit from bilingual speech and language research?

Research in this area can inform families, educators, speech-language professionals, and researchers who support bilingual children and adults. It contributes to more equitable assessment practices and better understanding of communication across languages.

### How can families support bilingual communication development?

Families can continue using the languages that feel natural and meaningful in everyday interactions, while creating opportunities for conversation, storytelling, reading, and play. A qualified speech-language professional can help address concerns while respecting the person's full linguistic and cultural background.

## Contact

- Address: Pittsburgh, PA, USA