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Bistra AndreevaView profile

Professor

• Phonetics and phonology of intonation and rhythm
• Cross-language and individual differences in syllabic prominence
• Intonation and information structure
• +3 more

Bistra Andreeva is a full Professor of Phonetics and Phonology at Saarland University, Department of Language Science and Technology. She is also a principal investigator of the DFG-funded project “Judeo-Spanish in Bulgaria: a contact language between archaism and innovation” (2022-2025) and leads or co-leads several other externally funded projects on prosody, information structure, and language contact. She teaches and has taught at Saarland University, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, and other European universities. Education & Academic Background Habilitation (kumulative Habilitationsschrift): “Contrastive Prosody: Bulgarian vs. German”, Saarland University, 2016. PhD (Dr. phil.): “Zur Phonetik und Phonologie der Intonation der Sofioter-Varietät des Bulgarischen”, Saarland University, 2007. Research Interests Andreeva’s research focuses on the phonetics and phonology of intonation and rhythm, cross-language and individual differences in the production and perception of syllabic prominence, the relation between intonation and information structure, minority languages (especially Judeo-Spanish in Bulgaria), and the interaction between information density and prosodic structure. Her methodological expertise includes experimental phonetics, corpus-based studies, and acoustic analysis. Major Projects SFB 1102 C1: “Information Density and the Predictability of Phonetic Structure” (DFG, 2014-2026) JuSpa: “Judeo-Spanish in Bulgaria: a contact language between archaism and innovation” (DFG, 2022-2025) Prosodic aspects of Bulgarian compared to other languages with lexical stress (Bulgarian National Science Fund, 2019-2024) Prosodic manifestations of focus in French and English from a Bulgarian point of view (DAAD & Sofia University, 2021-2023) Scientific Awards & Recognition While no major named prizes are listed, Andreeva’s work has been continuously supported by competitive grants from the German Research Foundation (DFG), DAAD, and Bulgarian National Science Fund. Her publications appear in top-tier journals and conference proceedings (Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Interspeech, Speech Prosody, International Congress of Phonetic Sciences). Teaching & Supervision She offers a broad spectrum of courses including Experimental Phonetics, Prosody, Phonetics & Phonology of Slavic Languages, Introduction to Instrumental Phonetics, and seminars on language contact. She has supervised numerous BA, MA, and PhD theses and regularly teaches at the PhD School of Sofia University. Labs & Teams She is affiliated with the Phonetics Laboratory at Saarland University and collaborates closely with the Institute for Bulgarian Language (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences), working in interdisciplinary teams involving phoneticians, computational linguists, and field linguists.

• World Englishes
• Corpus Linguistics
• Gender and Language
• +7 more

Prof. Robert Fuchs holds the Frommann Professorship of Applied English Linguistics at the University of Bonn, leading the Chair of Bonn Applied English Linguistics (BAEL) within the Department of English, American and Celtic Studies. His research focuses on World Englishes, corpus linguistics, sociolinguistics, and the impact of artificial intelligence on linguistic analysis. He actively supervises PhD students in topics aligned with his research group's interests, emphasizing empirical work and data science. Recent research explores language change in varieties like Hong Kong English, Trinidadian prosody, and intensifier usage across cultures. Fuchs frequently presents at international conferences, including ISLE, ICAME, and Sociolinguistics Symposium, and publishes extensively in journals like World Englishes and Language and Speech . His teaching includes advanced courses on corpus linguistics and language in culture, with a focus on climate change discourse analysis. He maintains an active academic presence through ResearchGate, Academia.edu, and LinkedIn. Research Interests: Fuchs investigates sociolinguistic variation, AI applications in linguistics, and the structural features of postcolonial Englishes. His work addresses topics such as vowel mergers in Hong Kong English, lexical stress perception in Indian English, and the role of gender in language use. He also explores diachronic changes in aspects like stative progressives and the perfect-past alternation across Asian Englishes. Advising & Grants: Fuchs oversees PhD student recruitment through research associate positions and self-funded scholarships, prioritizing applicants with strong empirical and analytical skills. His funded projects include studies on pandemic discourse (DisCOVIndUK) and linguistic trends in Caribbean English. His lab, BAEL, collaborates internationally, with ongoing work on Trinidadian prosody and Northeast Indian linguistic ecology. Labs/Teams: The Bonn Applied English Linguistics (BAEL) group, part of the University of Bonn's IAAK institute, focuses on cutting-edge research in global Englishes and computational linguistics, hosting international workshops and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Jakob LeimgruberView profile

Professor

• World Englishes
• Sociolinguistics
• Language planning and policy
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Jakob Leimgruber is Professor of English Linguistics at the University of Regensburg since 2022, where he is affiliated with the Department of English and American Studies within the Faculty of Languages, Literature, and Cultures. Previously, he served as Substitute Professor at the University of Freiburg (2020-2022) and Lecturer at the University of Basel (2018-2022). His academic journey includes a Habilitation in English Philology from the University of Freiburg (2018), a DPhil in English Language from the University of Oxford (2009), and a Licence ès lettres in English Linguistics from the University of Fribourg (2005). Leimgruber's research centers on World Englishes with particular focus on East and Southeast Asia, sociolinguistics, language planning and policy, linguistic landscapes, language contact phenomena, language variation and change, indexicality, and authenticity. His work employs empirical approaches including corpus linguistics, fieldwork, and eye-tracking methodologies to investigate multilingual contexts across Singapore, Montreal, Taiwan, and the UAE. He has made significant contributions to understanding Singapore English, linguistic landscapes in multilingual cities, and language variation in postcolonial contexts. His publication record demonstrates consistent research output across multiple high-impact journals in linguistics, with a strong focus on empirical studies of language variation in specific contexts. Recent work shows increased attention to East Asian Englishes beyond Singapore, including Taiwan, and expanding investigations into the linguistic landscapes of global cities like Dubai. His research often employs collaborative approaches with international scholars across multiple institutions. Leimgruber has been active in academic service through numerous conference presentations including invited talks at institutions worldwide, participation in research workshops, and contributions to edited volumes on World Englishes and multilingual cities. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications in language policy and education. As an academic leader, Leimgruber has directed research projects examining multilingualism in global contexts, with particular attention to the role of English in shaping linguistic landscapes and identity construction. His recent work has increasingly focused on comparative approaches across different multilingual settings, examining common patterns and context-specific variations in how English functions in diverse sociolinguistic environments.

Gisela ZifonunView profile

Professor

• German Linguistics
• Syntax
• Semantics
• +3 more

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.

Sigrid BeckView profile

Professor

• Semantics
• Formal Semantics
• Crosslinguistic Comparison
• +7 more

Prof. Dr. Sigrid Beck holds the Chair of Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics at the Department of English, University of Tübingen. She is affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities and specializes in semantics, focusing on questions, focus structures, plurals, comparison constructions, and decomposition adverbs. Her research integrates crosslinguistic, diachronic, and acquisition data to inform semantic theory. Education: PhD (1996) and Habilitation (2003), University of Tübingen and Goethe University Frankfurt Key positions: Held roles at MIT, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Connecticut, and University of Potsdam Publications include Structure and Meaning: Contrasting English and German Grammar (2014) and foundational lecture notes on tense and modality (2011). She teaches semantics and syntax within the Department's structured program. Office hours are Tuesdays 4-5pm via secretary appointment.

• English Linguistics
• Lexicography
• Spoken Language Analysis
• +3 more

Dr. Brigitta Mittmann is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of English and American Studies, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), holding the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship for Language and Cognition. Her work focuses on lexicography, phraseology, and comparative analysis of spoken English varieties.

Julia SchlüterView profile

Professor

• Corpus Linguistics
• Language Variation and Change
• Historical Linguistics
• +7 more

Professor Julia Schlüter is a distinguished academic in the Chair of English Linguistics within the Humanities Faculty at the University of Bamberg, Germany. She has served as Senior Lecturer at the Chair of English Linguistics and Language History under Prof. Manfred Krug since June 2008, holding the title of Professor following her habilitation in 2008. Her institutional profile demonstrates deep commitment to both research and teaching innovation, particularly through her leadership of the KorPLUS project and development of open educational resources for corpus linguistics. Her research interests span corpus linguistics for English language learners, empirical methods for studying language variation and change, and the application of corpus methods to teaching. She specializes in examining grammatical, phonological, and lexical differences between British and American English across historical periods from Middle English to present-day usage. Her work investigates phonological variation (particularly phonotactically controlled alternations), morphological change, and syntactic variation through corpus analysis, with special attention to functional grammar and grammaticalization theory. Professor Schlüter's recent publications (2022-2025) reveal a strategic evolution in her research focus, with increasing emphasis on the intersection of corpus linguistics and digital education. While maintaining her foundational work in historical English linguistics, she has developed significant expertise in applying corpus methods to language teacher education and evaluating AI writing tools. Her work demonstrates consistent methodological innovation, moving from traditional corpus analysis to blended learning approaches and digital educational resource development. Her scientific recognition includes: Winner of the 2025 Teaching Innovation Prize from the International Society for the Linguistics of English for the KorPLUS project University of Bamberg Prize for outstanding habilitation (2009) Lise Meitner Programme post-doctoral scholarship (2005-2006) Rectorate Prize from University of Paderborn for outstanding Ph.D. thesis (2005) Multiple DAAD scholarships for international study Professor Schlüter actively supervises doctoral research, currently guiding three Ph.D. candidates (Katharina Deckert, Aklima Nahar, and Nikolai Beland) while having successfully completed supervision for several others. She leads the KorPLUS project (2021-2025), funded by the Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre, which develops open educational resources for corpus linguistics. Her research has been consistently supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and other funding bodies throughout her career. She heads the KorPLUS team (with Carina Großmann and Katharina Deckert) which develops the interactive Open Educational Resource platform for corpus linguistics. Her YouTube channel offers video tutorials on corpus basics, and she has created the Video Podcast Series "How to Update your Grammar" for English teachers. She regularly organizes in-service teacher trainings and collaborates with the Virtual Linguistics Campus at RWTH Aachen University to deliver her educational materials globally.

• Historical Linguistics
• Sociolinguistics
• Dialectology
• +4 more

Robert McColl Millar is a Professor at the University of Aberdeen specializing in historical linguistics and Scots language studies. His research examines language contact phenomena, dialectological variation, and sociolinguistic dynamics within Scottish linguistic communities. His primary research domains include: Historical development of Scots in relation to English and Gaelic Dialectology of Scottish regional varieties (particularly Doric and fishing community dialects) Language policy and standardization efforts for Scots Lexical variation and attrition in endangered dialects Sociolinguistic aspects of language identity and nationalism Historical sociolinguistics of Scotland Language contact-induced change Analysis of Millar's recent publications (2024-2016) reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) Scots Language Documentation through dialect surveys, lexical studies, and orthographic analysis; (2) Language Contact Mechanisms examining borrowing, interference, and structural change in historical English; (3) Sociopolitical Dimensions exploring Scots' relationship with Scottish identity, nationalism, and language policy. His work consistently bridges theoretical linguistics with practical language planning concerns. No scientific awards are documented in the available sources. While student advising details remain unreported, his publications indicate extensive collaboration with research forums like the Forum for Research on the Languages of Scotland and Ulster. Grant funding specifics are not publicly itemized, though his edited volumes suggest institutional and conference-level support. No dedicated laboratories or research teams are specified in current public materials.

Helen EngemannView profile

Assistant Professor

• Bilingualism
• Language Acquisition
• Child Language Development
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Helen Engemann is a Junior Professor at the Department of English, School of Humanities, University of Mannheim. Her research focuses on multilingualism, language acquisition, and cognitive aspects of bilingualism. She is affiliated with the Research Team JP Multilingualism and is a member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sprachwissenschaft (DGfS), European Second Language Association (EUROSLA), and International Association for the Study of Child Language (IASCL). Her work investigates how language structures influence cognitive processes, particularly in bilingual children and heritage speakers. Key topics include motion event constructions, crosslinguistic influence, and syntactic packaging in multilingual environments. Recent studies explore language change mechanisms in Italian heritage speakers and the impact of typological factors on memory and event encoding. Publications span prestigious journals like Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism , Journal of Child Language , and Bilingualism: Language and Cognition . Her research bridges linguistics, psychology, and education, addressing both theoretical and applied questions in multilingual development.

• Corpus Linguistics
• Cognitive Linguistics
• Construction Grammar
• +7 more

Dr. Anatol Stefanowitsch is a Professor at the Institute of English Philology, Freie Universität Berlin. His work bridges corpus linguistics, cognitive linguistics, and sociolinguistic analysis, with a focus on construction grammar and language's role in societal discourse. He contributes to debates on language policy, gender marking, and digital communication, particularly through public commentary and academic publications. Linguistics (structure of modern English) Corpus Linguistics Cognitive Linguistics Construction Grammar Language Variation and Change Sociolinguistics Recent publications emphasize collocational patterns, metaphor interpretation, and motion event encoding. His research often integrates empirical methodologies with theoretical insights, challenging traditional grammatical paradigms. Key areas include the cognitive basis of language structures and their application to sociopolitical contexts.

Inés RecioView profile

Lecturer

• Applied Linguistics
• Discourse Analysis
• Pragmatics
• +3 more

Dr. Inés Recio is an academic director at the Heidelberg Center Latin America (HCLA) in Santiago, Chile, and a lecturer in legal translation at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. She holds a PhD in Modern Languages (summa cum laude) from Heidelberg University (2019) and has extensive experience in applied linguistics, discourse analysis, and translation studies. Her research focuses on experimental pragmatics, cognitive linguistics, and the processing of discourse markers in Spanish and other languages. Education: PhD, Faculty of Modern Languages, University of Heidelberg (2013–2019) Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics, Universidad Nebrija (2009–2011) Bachelor's in Translation and Interpreting, Universidad Pontificia Comillas (2000–2004) Research Interests: Her work explores how procedural meaning influences second language processing, with a focus on connectives and discourse particles. She employs experimental methods, including eye-tracking, to analyze cognitive aspects of language use in multimodal contexts. Recent projects include studies on pandemic discourses in Latin America and multimodal literacy in education. Academic Roles: She serves on admissions committees for international law and governance programs and is a member of Heidelberg's Ibero-American Studies and Language and Cognition labs. She has led projects funded by DAAD, CONICYT, and others, focusing on discourse processing and cross-linguistic studies. Awards: Summa Cum Laude distinction for her doctoral thesis (2019). Other Qualifications: Sworn translator (German/Spanish, English/Spanish), certified examiner for Instituto Cervantes Spanish proficiency exams.

• Computational Linguistics
• Natural Language Processing
• Grammar Engineering
• +3 more

PD Dr. phil. Evangelia Kordoni is a research assistant at Humboldt University of Berlin's Faculty of Linguistics and Literary Studies, specifically within the Institute for English and American Studies. Her office is located at Dorotheenstraße 28, Room 3.04, and she can be contacted via email for appointments. She is an active researcher in computational linguistics with a focus on grammar engineering and natural language processing. Kordoni's research primarily explores: Computational linguistics frameworks including HPSG grammar implementation Multiword expression processing and machine translation systems Treebank development for languages including English, German and Bulgarian Lexical acquisition methods for large-scale grammars Semantic parsing and disambiguation techniques Her work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical NLP applications. Kordoni's publication record shows consistent focus on deep linguistic processing, with recent emphasis on: Multiword expression analysis in machine translation systems Parallel treebank development for multilingual applications Verb subcategorization and compound noun disambiguation Dynamic annotation methodologies for Wall Street Journal texts Cross-linguistic studies of Germanic syntax

Christian MairView profile

Professor

• Corpus Linguistics
• World Englishes
• Varieties of English
• +3 more

Professor Christian Mair is Chair of English Linguistics at the University of Freiburg, Germany, with a distinguished career spanning decades in linguistic research. He holds a prominent position in the Department of English Linguistics within the Faculty of Humanities and maintains an active research profile with regular publications and supervisory responsibilities. Professor Mair's scholarly work centers on corpus-based approaches to understanding language variation and change, with particular expertise in: World Englishes and their global development Corpus linguistics methodology and application Historical and contemporary grammatical changes in English Sociolinguistic aspects of language contact and variation Pidgin and creole languages in diaspora contexts English as a Lingua Franca in non-traditional English-speaking environments His recent research demonstrates sustained engagement with contemporary linguistic issues, particularly examining English in German-speaking contexts, migration's impact on language variation, and digital methodologies in linguistic analysis. Professor Mair frequently collaborates with international scholars on projects investigating English in diverse sociolinguistic settings across the globe. Professor Mair has received significant academic recognition: Member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences Corresponding Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna He leads multiple research initiatives including the DFG project "West African Englishes on the Move" and research on "New Forms of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) in Germany." His research team comprises several associates and assistants working on various aspects of English linguistics, with regular visiting scholars from international institutions. Professor Mair maintains active collaborations worldwide, hosting researchers such as Dr. Azizeh Chalak and Dr. Hossein Heidari Tabrizi from Iran. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications in understanding how English functions in increasingly globalized and multilingual contexts, with particular attention to non-colonial English language environments.

Thomas RainsfordView profile

Lecturer

• Historical Romance Linguistics
• Phonology
• Corpus Linguistics
• +2 more

Thomas Rainsford is a Lecturer at the University of Stuttgart's Institute of Linguistics, Division of Romance Linguistics. His research focuses on historical Romance linguistics, particularly phonological change, morpho-syntax, and corpus development. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and has held positions at ENS de Lyon and as a British Academy Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford. Research interests center on: Diachronic evolution of French, Occitan, and Italian Prosodic changes and phonological annotation Lexical and morpho-syntactic aspects of motion events Historical corpus development with multi-layer annotation Publications demonstrate consistent focus on: Historical phonology and orthographic systems Syntactic change in medieval Gallo-Romance languages Corpus linguistics methodologies Computational approaches to historical texts Awards include the British Academy Post-Doctoral Fellowship. Current research involves leading a DFG-funded project examining motion events in French and Italian through lexical and syntactic change analysis. Developed the Old Gallo-Romance Corpus (OGR) with specialized phonological and metrical annotation layers.

Leonarda PrelaView profile

Researcher

• First and Second Language Acquisition
• Bilingualism in Adults
• Cognitive Linguistics
• +3 more

Dr. Leonarda Prela is a doctoral researcher at the Chair of Language and Cognition (Alexander von Humboldt-Professorship) within the Department of English and American Studies at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). Her research investigates the interplay between cognitive abilities and linguistic performance in adult bilingual speakers of Greek and English, focusing on factors influencing first and second language acquisition. Research Focus : Relationship between L1 and L2 in bilinguals Cognitive predictors of language attainment Role of education and input quality/quantity Recent Publications Analyzed : 2024 study on age effects in heritage vs. late L2 learners 2022 investigation of aptitude-experience interactions in Greek-English bilinguals Contact: leonarda.prela@fau.de