Comparative Indo-European Syntax Professors and Supervisors

Thomas JügelView profile

Researcher

Ruhr University BochumGermany

Dr. Thomas Jügel is a Researcher and Project Leader at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, focusing on the Middle Persian language and Zoroastrian texts through the MPCD project. He holds a PhD in Comparative Linguistics from Goethe-Universität Frankfurt (2013) and an MA in Iranic Studies from Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Berlin (2004). His research explores historical linguistics, ergativity, tense/aspect systems, and Iranic dialectology, with a particular emphasis on Middle Iranic languages. Key projects include the digital annotation of Middle Persian corpora and investigations into Kurdish linguistic history. His academic career includes postdoctoral research in Sweden, France, and Japan, supported by grants from DFG, JSPS, and Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung. Jügel’s publications span studies on Middle Persian morphology, Avestan computational analysis, and the syntactic evolution of Iranic languages. He collaborates internationally, contributing to journals like Science and Bibliotheca Orientalis , and co-edits volumes on word order variation and Indo-European language origins. Current roles include leading the 'Aspect in Middle Persian' project and serving as a Research Associate at the Center for Religious Studies. His work bridges traditional linguistic analysis with computational methods, advancing digital corpus tools for ancient and medieval texts.

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Petra GoedegebuureView profile

Associate Professor

University of ChicagoUnited States

Petra Goedegebuure is an Associate Professor of Hittitology and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Chicago , affiliated with the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures and the Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (NELC) department. She specializes in the intersection of linguistics , philology , and cultural analysis of ancient Anatolian societies. Research Focus: Syntactic alignment, discourse cohesion, information structure, language change in contact situations (Hattic-Hittite, Hittite-Luwian, Hittite-Hurrian), and semiotic analysis of Hittite texts. Advising: Works with students on topics spanning Anatolian languages, West-Semitic languages, and extinct language analysis. Scientific Awards: Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research Fellowship Franke Institute of the Humanities Fellowship American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship Recent Publications: Focus on Hittite demonstratives, core case semantics, Luwian hieroglyphs, and language communities in colonial Anatolia.

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Marco ManciniView profile

Professor

Sapienza University of RomeItaly

Marco Mancini is a Full Professor at the Department of Modern Literature and Culture, Sapienza University of Rome. His academic career spans teaching and research in linguistics, with a focus on historical linguistics, philology, and structuralism. Teaching: He offers courses in Glottology and Linguistics (12 credits) for Master's students, with semesters starting in October and February. Research: His work bridges ancient languages, Iranian studies, and Mediterranean linguistic evolution, emphasizing protohistory of structuralism and cultural exchanges. Recent Publications: His 2023-2025 articles explore topics like the revival of the Pahlavi language, phonetic typology of Mediterranean languages, and the role of historical linguistics in understanding language change. Collaborative projects include ECO4CO , applying predictive algorithms to health emergencies. Academic Service: He contributes to Italian linguistic historiography, notably commemorating scholars like Walter Belardi and Palmira Cipriano. His affiliations include the Società Italiana di Glottologia and Accademia dei Lincei.

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Roberto BatistiView profile

Lecturer

Ca' Foscari University of VeniceItaly

Roberto Batisti is a Contract Lecturer at the Department of Humanities , Ca' Foscari University of Venice . He holds a PhD in Culture Letterarie, Filologiche e Storiche from the University of Bologna (2014), with research on compensatory lengthening in Ancient Greek. His academic career includes research roles at the University of Bologna (2016-2020) and the ERC-funded project PURA – PUrism in Antiquity (2022–present). PhD in Classical and Historical Studies (University of Bologna, 2014) Classical Teaching Qualification (TFA, University of Bologna, 2015) Master’s Degree in Classical Philology (University of Bologna, 2010) Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Philology (University of Bologna, 2007) His research focuses on Historical Linguistics with emphasis on Ancient Greek phonology and Indo-European reconstruction . Recent work examines h-anticipation , postnasal deaspiration , and sound laws in Mediterranean languages. He explores compensatory lengthening , ancient particle usage , and cross-linguistic etymology in Indo-European contexts. Article trends show strong engagement with phonological rules ( h-anticipation , Verner’s Law ), lexical diffusion ( columba/κόλυμβος ), and historical syntax ( Attorno all'etimologia di τραυλός ). His work bridges Comparative Linguistics and Cultural Studies , with recurring themes in foreignness terminology and poetic language analysis . Advising includes co-supervising theses on Valenzgrammatik , Homeric datives , and inclusive Greek pedagogy . Organized conferences include the international Figure dell’altro (2018), DSA and Classical Languages (2019, 2020), and the Indo-European Research Colloquium (2022). Active in Societas Linguistica Europaea (since 2020) and Indogermanische Gesellschaft (since 2019).

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Yingqi JingView profile

Researcher

Uppsala UniversitySweden

Yingqi Jing is a Visiting Researcher in linguistics and computational linguistics at the Department of Linguistics and Philology, Uppsala University. Dr. Jing's research focuses on: Linguistics Computational Linguistics Syntax Language Evolution Typology Dependency Grammar Recent research has examined word order patterns across languages, dependency length minimization principles, and linguistic typology, with publications in leading journals such as Language, Diachronica, and Journal of Uralic Linguistics. Their methodological approach combines corpus-based analysis with computational techniques to investigate fundamental questions about syntactic universals and language change across different language families including Indo-European and Uralic. Dr. Jing can be contacted at: yingqi.jing@lingfil.uu.se

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Ángel Alonso-Cortés MantecaView profile

Professor

University of La RiojaSpain

Ángel Alonso-Cortés Manteca is a distinguished linguistics scholar affiliated with the Faculty of Philology at Complutense University of Madrid. With a career spanning from 1976 to 2022, he has established himself as a significant contributor to Spanish linguistics, historical linguistics, and theoretical linguistics. His academic profile includes 44 journal articles, 8 collective works, 13 reviews, 9 books, and direction of 3 doctoral theses, reflecting his substantial scholarly output and mentorship. His research interests span multiple dimensions of linguistic study, with particular emphasis on Spanish phonology, syntax, and historical development. He has made notable contributions to Basque language studies, examining its historical documentation and relationship with Spanish. His work on language evolution, from theoretical explorations of language origins to practical analyses of contemporary phenomena like Spanglish, demonstrates both breadth and depth in his scholarly approach. Alonso-Cortés Manteca has also engaged critically with major linguistic theories, from Saussurean structuralism to Chomskyan generative grammar, as evidenced by his publications examining these frameworks. His publication record shows consistent scholarly activity across five decades, with recent work including the 2022 RLD Corpus study of linguistic resources in Spanish law, demonstrating continued relevance and engagement with contemporary linguistic issues. His directed doctoral theses on Spanish phonology, spoken Spanish discourse patterns, and Spanish temporality reflect his influence on emerging scholars in the field. As an academic, Alonso-Cortés Manteca has contributed significantly to linguistic education through his textbooks, particularly the multiple editions of his "Lingüística" series, which have served as foundational resources for Spanish linguistics students. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical language analysis, making complex linguistic concepts accessible while maintaining scholarly rigor.

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Thomas OlanderView profile

Associate Professor

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Thomas Olander is an Associate Professor of Comparative Indo-European Linguistics at the Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen. He has been in this position since 2019 and has led several major research projects focused on the Indo-European language family. His educational background includes: DPhil in Comparative Indo-European Linguistics, University of Copenhagen (2015) Ph.D. in Slavic and Baltic historical linguistics, University of Copenhagen (2006) M.A. in Indo-European Linguistics, University of Copenhagen (2002) B.A. in Indo-European Linguistics and Bulgarian, University of Copenhagen (1999) Thomas Olander specializes in comparative Indo-European linguistics with a focus on reconstructing the Proto-Indo-European language and understanding the relationships between its various branches. His research interests include the Indo-European homeland problem, historical grammar of Slavic and Baltic languages, and Danish linguistics. He has led significant research projects such as "Connecting the Dots: Reconfiguring the Indo-European family tree" (2019-2023) and "The homeland: In the footprints of the early Indo-Europeans" (2015-2018). His publications show a strong focus on phylogenetic approaches to understanding language relationships, with particular attention to Slavic languages within the broader Indo-European context. His work often bridges linguistic evidence with archaeological findings to address questions about prehistoric language spread and development. Among his notable achievements is the Einar Hansens Forskningspris award received in 2022. Professor Olander teaches various Indo-European disciplines, including historical grammar of specific Indo-European languages and Indo-European morphology. He has also taught courses on Danish phonetics, morphology, syntax, and historical grammar, as well as Bulgarian language. He is currently a core member of the LAMP (Languages and Myths of Prehistory) research project (2020-2025), which takes an interdisciplinary approach to examining the relationship between languages, material culture, and myths at prehistoric stages of Indo-European languages.

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