Ronan O'Brien
Princeton University
Languages & Linguistics
Opportunity Be Knockin': Race and Invariant Be in Hip-Hop Language
Princeton University
Languages & Linguistics
Opportunity Be Knockin': Race and Invariant Be in Hip-Hop Language
Ronan O'Brien is a senior at Princeton University pursuing an independent concentration in linguistics. His research has a sociolinguistic focus, exploring how race and gender influence language usage, and how cultural pressures towards authenticity impact code-switching by speakers. Ronan is also pursuing a minor in Translation and Intercultural Communication, and has studied Spanish, French, Persian, and Polish. He enjoys Spanish-English literary translation, both as part of coursework and in his free time, and serves with a campus group that provides volunteer document translation to non-profit organizations. Ronan has studied abroad in Poland, France, and Switzerland, and has interned with the UN World Food Programme in Ecuador.