Olivia is an MPhil student in Linguistics at the University of Oxford, having previously completed a BA in Linguistics at University College London (UCL). Her research interests lie in theoretical syntax, formal semantics, and the syntax-semantics interface. Her undergraduate research investigated several aspects of Mandarin syntax and semantics, including argument structure, ditransitive constructions, serial verb constructions, and purposive clauses. Her dissertation on Mandarin serial verb constructions, supervised by Professor Klaus Abels, was awarded third place in the 2026 LAGB Outstanding Undergraduate Dissertation competition. Before pursuing linguistics, she trained in engineering in Norway and worked in popular science publishing and translation. Outside academia, she is an avid cat lover and lives with her three cat-masters, Maojian, Neanderthal and Heywego.

 

Publications & Presentations
Conference Proceedings
  • Liu, Xiaoou (2026). “The syntax of Mandarin purposive lái-clauses: An adjunction approach.” In Proceedings of the 7th Annual Emory Undergraduate Linguistics Conference.
  • Liu, Xiaoou (2026). “Two types of transitivity in Mandarin.” In Proceedings of the Undergraduate Linguistics Association of Britain XVI Conference.
Manuscripts Under Review
  • Liu, Xiaoou (under review). “Mandarin gěi can be a preposition.” Manuscript submitted to the Journal of the Undergraduate Linguistics Association of Britain (JoULAB).
Conference Presentations
  • Liu, Xiaoou (2026). “The syntax of Mandarin purposive lái-clauses: An adjunction approach.” Presented at:
    •  20th Annual Cornell Undergraduate Linguistics Colloquium, Ithaca, USA, April 2026.
    • 10th Annual Berkeley Undergraduate Linguistics Symposium, Berkeley, USA, April 2026.
    • 7th Annual Emory Undergraduate Linguistics Conference, USA, April 2026.
  • Liu, Xiaoou (2026). “Two types of transitivity in Mandarin.” Paper presented at Undergraduate Linguistics Association of Britain (ULAB) XVI Conference, York, UK, April 2026.
  • Liu, Xiaoou (2025). “Mandarin gěi can be a preposition.” Paper presented at ULAB XV Conference, London, UK, April 2025.
Selected Book Translations (English to Simplified Chinese)
  • Krauss, L. (2024). The Known Unknowns (X. Liu, Trans.; Simplified Chinese ed.). CITIC Press.
  • Nelson, B. (2024). Flush (X. Liu, Trans.; Simplified Chinese ed.). Zhejiang People's Publishing House.
  • Black, R. (2023). Deep Time (X. Liu, Trans.; Simplified Chinese ed.). Beijing Science and Technology Press.
  • Doyle, M. (2021). The Source (X. Liu, Trans.; Simplified Chinese ed.). Peking University Press.

Fifteen books have been published, with three additional titles in press. See the full list of translations.

 

Academic Awards
  • Third Place, 2026 LAGB Outstanding Undergraduate Dissertation competition, Linguistics Association of Great Britain, 2026.
  • Alexander Melville Bell Prize (for top academic performance), UCL Department of Linguistics, 2025 and 2026.

 

Education
  • MPhil in Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics, University of Oxford, 2026 - Present.
  • BA in Linguistics, University College London, 2026.
  • MSc in Geotechnics and Geohazards, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 2016.