Lorna Carson

Lorna Carson is Professor in Applied Linguistics at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, where she serves as Head of the School of Linguistic, Speech & Communication Sciences. With a distinguished career spanning multiple decades, Professor Carson has established herself as a leading researcher in language learning, multilingualism, and language education policy.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Trinity College Dublin (2002-2006), additional studies at Trinity College Dublin (2001-2002), and European Studies at the College of Europe (1999-2000).

Professor Carson's research focuses on the intersection of individual and societal multilingualism, with particular emphasis on language classrooms, education policy, and assessment. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical educational applications, examining how multilingual practices function in diverse settings from primary education to urban environments across Europe.

Her recent publications reveal a strong dual focus: extensive research on multilingualism in European urban contexts, particularly through the LUCIDE network examining cities like Dublin, and a comprehensive investigation of offensive language in Chinese, covering lexical, semantic, and cultural dimensions. This work demonstrates her ability to tackle both macro-level societal language issues and micro-level linguistic phenomena.

• Trinity Global Engagement Award (May 2015)
• Fellowship, Trinity College Dublin (April 2015)

Professor Carson has led significant collaborative projects examining multilingualism in Dublin and other European cities through the LUCIDE network. Her research has practical applications in language education policy and assessment, with notable contributions to understanding language learning motivation and the implementation of language programs in higher education settings. She has also been involved with the Trinity Centre for Asian Studies, reflecting her interest in East Asian languages and cultures.