Matthew Ajibade is a linguist whose research sits at the intersection of phonetics, phonology, and speech perception, with a central focus on Yoruba and other understudied West African languages. His research investigates how listeners with different language experiences- such as heritage speakers, second language learners, and native speakers- perceive and process complex phonological contrasts. A key strand of his work examines the perception of labial-velar stops, which are typologically rare sounds that offer rich insights into models of phonological representation and cross-linguistic speech processing.

Grounded in experimental methodologies, Matthew's research draws from acoustic analysis, behavioral perception tasks, and advanced statistical modeling. He is particularly interested in how language experience shapes the phonological grammar and the extent to which perceptual learning is influenced by native-language categories. His dissertation, supported by the NFMLTA-NCOLCTL Research Award, advances empirical and theoretical contributions to models of speech perception, including the Perceptual Assimilation Model (PAM), the Speech Learning Model (SLM), and Second Language Linguistic Perception (L2LP).

Matthew earned his Ph.D. in Linguistics from Indiana University, where he specialized in phonological perception and African linguistics. Beyond his core phonological research, Matthew also engages in work on Yoruba language pedagogy and the integration of digital tools- such as artificial intelligence- for teaching and learning African languages. Matthew currently serves as a Visiting Lecturer in the African Studies Program at Indiana University, where he teaches Yoruba language and culture and contributes to curriculum development and community engagement.