Dr David O'Reilly

Profile

Biography

 I am a researcher in second language acquisition and applied linguistics, working at the intersection of figurative language, vocabulary, grammar, and cognitive approaches to language learning. My research examines how learners develop metaphoric competence, vocabulary knowledge, and grammatical knowledge, and how these relate to broader processes of language learning and cognition. My research examines how learners develop metaphoric competence and grammatical knowledge, and how these relate to broader processes of language learning and cognition. I am particularly interested in the conceptualisation and measurement of metaphor, including metaphor language play, and in advancing methodology in this area.

My work has been recognised for conceptual innovation and methodological rigour, including the 2021 Early Career Research Paper Prize from the Association for Researching and Applying Metaphor. I have published in leading journals such as Applied Linguistics, Studies in Second Language Acquisition, Applied Psycholinguistics, and Language and Cognition, and have co-edited volumes on metaphoric competence and inclusion in English language teaching.

Alongside my research, I have contributed to research infrastructure and Open Research initiatives (IRIS; OASIS) and have held departmental leadership roles in digital education, for which I was awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Award, and research methods teaching.

Career

• 2023-present: Deputy Research Centre Leader, Centre for Advanced Studies in Language and Education (CASLE)
• 2024-2025: Principal Investigator: How do you live with not wanting to live? Understanding the metaphors and language preferences of people experiencing suicidal ideation, their family/friends, and mental health practitioners.
• 2023: Winner, Best Poster Prize at 16th RaAM Conference, University of Alcala
• 2022-present: Lecturer in Education (Research and Teaching)
• 2021-present: Review Editor, Metaphor and the Social World
• 2021-2022: Lecturer in Education (Teaching and Scholarship)
• 2021: Winner, RaAM Early Career Research Paper Prize 2021
• 2021: Winner, Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award 2021: Covid response category
• 2021: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• 2021: Nominated: University of York Student's Union (formerly YUSU) Outstanding Zoom Creativity and Teacher of the Year
• 2021: Winner, Department of Education 'Making the Difference' scheme
• 2020-22: Secretary, the Association for Researching and Applying Metaphor (RaAM)
• 2018-20: Ordinary Member on the Executive Committee of the Association for Researching and Applying Metaphor (RaAM)
• 2018: Nominated, Best PhD Presentation Prize at 12th RaAM Conference, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• 2018: Initial team member for OASIS (Open Accessible Summaries In Language Studies)
• 2017-21: Associate Lecturer in Education (Teaching and Scholarship)
• 2017: Research Assistant, a meta-analysis of reliability in metaphoric competence and preparatory work for an innovative meta-analysis tool, Principal Investigator: Emma Marsden, funding by a Department Research Priming Grant Awarded
• 2014-18: Postgraduate Liaison and Development Officer on the Executive Committee of the Association for Researching and Applying Metaphor (RaAM)
• 2014: Research Assistant: Promoting dialogic teaching to enhance student critical engagement with learning, Principal Investigator: Jan Hardman
• 2013-17: PhD student, University of York, An investigation into metaphoric competence in the L2: A linguistic approach
• 2013-16: Project Administrator: IRIS, Project Directors (in this period): Emma Marsden, Luke Plonsky (Alison Mackey, former)
• 2012-13: Masters in Applied Linguistics for English Language Teaching, University of York
• 2008-12: English Language Instructor, Berlitz Centre for Foreign Languages, Belgrade, Serbia
• 2003-06: Bachelors in English Language and Literature, University of Manchester

University roles

• Derwent SCR member

Research

Overview

My core research programme examines how second language learners develop and process complex form–meaning mappings across figurative and lexicogrammatical domains, which offer complementary windows into how language knowledge is structured, integrated, and deployed in real time. A distinctive feature of this work is its focus on linguistically and cognitively “slippery” phenomena — particularly metaphor language play and creative language use — which are theoretically and pedagogically important yet methodologically challenging to define and measure. I seek to bring conceptual clarity and empirical precision to such constructs, refining how metaphoric competence and its development are understood, operationalised, and investigated. Across projects, I seek to advance theoretical accounts of abstract meaning while also addressing foundational questions of measurement and research design. For information about my publications, projects, activities, and prizes, please see my University of York Research Database profile.

Research Leadership

I have led externally-funded research on metaphor in suicide discourse, examining how individuals linguistically conceptualise and communicate lived experience. I have also led on research projects on metaphoric competence for second language learners and in planning longitudinal research on second language tense-aspect development across different contexts.

Beyond individual projects, I have contributed to the development of research infrastructure and methodological capacity within the field. I previously served as Project Administrator for IRIS, a major international repository of instruments, materials, and data in language research, and helped contribute to OASIS (Open Accessible Summaries in Language Studies), supporting knowledge mobilisation and open research practice.

Research group(s)

• Centre for Advanced Studies in Language and Education (CASLE)

Supervision

I supervise students at all levels in the department (UG, PG, PhD) and serve on Thesis Advisory and Progression Panels for doctoral students. I am interested in applications from potential PhD students working in my research areas.

Teaching

Undergraduate

I teach / have taught on the following undergraduate modules (*denotes module leadership):

• *Advancing Your Expertise
• Educational Research Methods
• New directions in Educational Research
• Researching Psychology in Education

Postgraduate

I teach / have taught on the following postgraduate modules (*denotes module leadership):

• *Research Methods for Psychology in Education I
• *Research Methods for Psychology in Education II
• Artificial Intelligence and Technology-Enhanced Learning: Key Issues and Debates
• English Linguistics
• Evaluating TESOL Practice
• Language Curriculum Design and Evaluation
• Language for Education
• Planning and Communicating Research
• Pragmatics: Language, Meaning and Communication
• Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis
• Research Methods for Language Education II: Answering Questions
• Research Methods in Language Learning and Teaching
• TESOL Methods
• Testing and Assessment in English Language Teaching

Other teaching

I have also held departmental leadership responsibilities in digital education, founding the Education E-Learning Hub to support sustainable, research-informed innovation in teaching practice, for which I was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award 2021: Covid response category.

External activities

Memberships

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the Association for Researching and Applying Metaphor (RaAM)

Editorial duties

• Review Editor, Metaphor and the Social World
• Postgraduate and Academic Researchers in Linguistics at York (PARLAY) 2014 Conference Proceedings

Invited talks and conferences

For information, please see my University of York Research Database profile.