Sonja Riesberg

Dr. Sonja Riesberg is affiliated with the Department of Linguistics at the University of Cologne. Her research focuses on theoretical linguistics, language documentation, and the study of Austronesian and Papuan languages. She has contributed significantly to understanding symmetrical voice systems, morphosyntactic alignment, and prosodic structures in understudied languages. Her work integrates fieldwork methodologies with formal syntactic analysis, particularly in regions like Eastern Indonesia and Papua.

Key research areas include syntax, morphosyntax, and the documentation of endangered languages such as Yali and Totoli. She has led projects on prominence-related structures in symmetrical voice languages (SFB 05) and prosodic entrainment in multilingual interactions. Notable publications include edited volumes on caused motion events and dictionaries of Yali, reflecting her commitment to both theoretical and applied linguistic research.

Her recent work explores differential object marking, valency alternations, and the interface between syntax and prosody. Collaborations with institutions like Asia-Pacific Linguistics and contributions to journals such as Linguistic Typology and Studies in Language highlight her interdisciplinary approach to linguistic inquiry.