Her research expertise centers on the social and cultural factors that contribute to variation and change within the English language; she also has extensive knowledge of German and French, as well as familiarity with Dutch, Italian, and other languages. As an undergraduate student she studied abroad in Freiburg, Germany, and France. In addition, she has traveled throughout Europe as well as parts of Asia and Central America. She also lived in Amsterdam, learning the city in depth as well as other sites within the Netherlands.