Gisela ZifonunView profile
Professor
Prof. Dr. Gisela Zifonun is a retired University Professor of German Linguistics at the University of Mannheim and former Head of the Grammar Department at the Institut für Deutsche Sprache (IDS) until July 2011. She holds a doctorate (1971) and habilitation (1994) in German Linguistics. Her career includes roles as a scientific employee at the IDS (1973–1995), Head of the Grammar Department (1986–1995), and professorships at the Free University of Berlin (1995–1998) and the University of Mannheim (1998–2011). Her research focuses on grammar theory, German syntax/semantics/morphology, language typology, and comparative linguistics. Key projects include the Grammar of German in European Comparison (GDE-N) and the EuroGr@mm initiative. She has authored/co-authored over 130 works, including monographs and edited volumes on German linguistics. Notable publications include Das Deutsche als europäische Sprache (2021) and Grammatik des Deutschen im europäischen Vergleich (2017). Her work emphasizes cross-linguistic analysis and corpus-driven research. Research interests span syntax, morphology, and typological comparisons across German, Romance, and Slavic languages. Recent contributions address gender-inclusive language reform and corpus-based studies. She has supervised numerous academic projects and serves as a key figure in German linguistic infrastructure, including IDS initiatives. No explicit awards are listed, but her extensive bibliography reflects significant scholarly impact. Professional roles include managing the IDS’s Grammar Department and coordinating international collaborations. Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with applied research, contributing to both academic discourse and language policy discussions.








