Find Academic Supervisors

• Linguistic Typology
• Motion Events Encoding
• Romance Languages
• +10 more

Alfonsina Buonicontro is a Researcher in the Department of Humanities (DIPSUM) at the University of Salerno, Italy, where she conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of linguistic typology, cognitive linguistics, and language education. Her work focuses on motion event encoding, covert linguistic strategies, and pedagogical models for teaching general linguistics and text comprehension. Her research interests include: Linguistic and lexical typology, especially in Romance languages Motion event semantics and syntax (verb-framed vs. satellite-framed languages) Covert encoding and inferential meaning in motion expressions Constructional semantics and Gestalt theory in language interpretation Development of annotation tools like Modeg for motion event analysis Pedagogical innovation in linguistics education and reading comprehension Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on diachronic and cross-linguistic analysis of Italian, French, Spanish, Latin, and Ancient Greek, with an emphasis on how meaning is constructed beyond explicit lexical items. She explores how learners interpret motion and cohesion in texts, contributing to both theoretical linguistics and applied educational practices. Scientific contributions include: Development of the Modeg (MOtion DEcoding Grid) annotation tool for systematic motion event analysis Experimental educational project LeCo for enhancing reading comprehension in secondary schools Pioneering studies on boundary-crossing events in Romance languages Analysis of Source/Goal asymmetry in classical languages Proposals for top-down, semantics-first models in teaching linguistics Buonicontro actively publishes in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, often in collaboration with scholars such as Claudio Iacobini and Debora Vena. While no formal list of advisees is provided, her involvement in educational projects suggests mentorship and curriculum leadership roles. She maintains a presence on academic platforms including ORCID, ResearchGate, and Academia.edu, indicating ongoing scholarly engagement.

Francesco VespignaniView profile

Associate Professor

• Sentence Processing
• ERPs (Event-Related Potentials)
• Language Comprehension
• +3 more

Francesco Vespignani is an Associate Professor at the University of Padova. His research focuses on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying language comprehension, particularly sentence processing, ERPs (event-related potentials), and interactions between syntax and pragmatics. He investigates how language influences visual attention, bilingualism, aging, and deafness. His work integrates psycholinguistic, ERP, and EEG methodologies. Research areas: ERPs and sentence comprehension, syntax-pragmatics interaction, language and visual attention, language in atypical populations (bilingualism, aging, deafness). Publications: Over 40 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Journal of Experimental Psychology , Brain and Language , and Discourse Processes . Recent articles highlight speaker-specific speech prediction, pragmatic leniency toward foreigners, and neural mechanisms of language processing in cochlear implant users. His work bridges cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and linguistics. Key findings include the role of novel linguistic labels in visual attention disengagement and ERP evidence of discourse expectations linked to the question under discussion. Collaborations span Italy, Germany, and the UK, focusing on bilingualism and neurocognitive language processing.

Carlotta SparvoliView profile

Associate Professor

• Chinese Linguistics
• Semantics of Modality
• Chinese as a Second Language Teaching
• +7 more

Carlotta Sparvoli is an Associate Professor in the Department of Asian and North African Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where she has been a faculty member since February 2022. She also serves as the Director's Delegate for Information Technology. Her academic work bridges theoretical and applied linguistics, with a focus on Chinese language and its pedagogy. PhD in Languages, Cultures and Society, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (2012) Laurea in Oriental Languages (Chinese), Ca' Foscari University of Venice (1991) National Scientific Habilitation for Associate Professor (2019) Her research centers on the semantics of modal expressions in Chinese, the acquisition of Mandarin tones, and the teaching of Chinese as a second language. She employs corpus-based and cognitive linguistic approaches to analyze modality, negation, and discourse structure. Her interdisciplinary work integrates insights from psychology, philosophy, and education. The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong focus on modality, tonal acquisition, and political discourse in Chinese. These works span book chapters, journal articles, and encyclopedia entries, published by leading academic presses such as Oxford University Press and De Gruyter. Her research shows a consistent trajectory toward understanding the cognitive and pragmatic dimensions of Chinese linguistic structures. President, Italian Association of Chinese Linguistics (AILC) Executive Board Member, Chinese as a Second Language Research (CASLAR) Executive Committee Member, International Association of Chinese Linguistics (IACL) Editorial Board, Chinese as a Second Language Research Reviewer for ERC, Oxford University Press, and multiple international journals She has supervised five doctoral students and organized major international conferences such as ISOCTAL-3 and CASLAR-3. Her academic service includes external examination roles at Dublin Institute of Technology and Maynooth University. She has been an active participant in international research groups, including the CASRI Initiative on modality acquisition. Carlotta Sparvoli leads a vibrant research agenda and is deeply embedded in the global Chinese linguistics community. She has held teaching and leadership positions at institutions in Ireland, Taiwan, and Italy, reflecting her transnational scholarly impact.

Simona OlivieriView profile

Researcher

• Arabic Linguistics
• Classical Arabic Grammar
• History of Linguistic Thought
• +7 more

Simona Olivieri is a Researcher in Arabic Language and Literature at the Department of Asian and North African Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Her work bridges classical philology, Arabic linguistic theory, and digital humanities, with a strong focus on the historical development of grammatical thought and terminology in the Arabic tradition. She is actively involved in interdisciplinary research projects and academic publishing. Researcher, Department of Asian and North African Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice Scientific Disciplinary Sector: Arabic Language and Literature [STAA-01/L] Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Zeitschrift für Arabische Linguistik Reviewer, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Lead Designer, ALiDiM Project (ERC H2020) Team Member, OBUA Project (Berlin University Alliance) Her research interests center on classical Arabic grammar, the evolution of linguistic terminology, the transmission of knowledge from Greek to Arabic, and the application of digital methods to philological texts. She explores how early Arabic grammarians codified linguistic rules, developed technical vocabulary, and engaged with earlier intellectual traditions. Her recent work emphasizes digital corpus creation, computational annotation, and the integration of digital tools into language pedagogy. The analysis of her recent publications (2016–2024) reveals a consistent trajectory in Arabic linguistic studies, increasingly incorporating digital methodologies. Her work spans theoretical grammar, historical semantics, textual transmission, and digital text encoding. A notable trend is her growing engagement with research integrity infrastructure, particularly through the OBUA project, which complements her philological expertise with institutional ethics frameworks. Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Zeitschrift für Arabische Linguistik Reviewer for Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Simona Olivieri supervises Bachelor’s and Master’s theses at Ca' Foscari University, requiring students to complete Information Literacy training through BALI. She has contributed to externally funded research projects, including the ERC-funded ALiDiM project on Arabic linguistic discourse and the OBUA project on ombuds systems in Berlin. These grants reflect her dual expertise in traditional philology and contemporary research governance. She is associated with the ALiDiM project team, which investigates the formation of Arabic linguistic discourse, and contributed to the OBUA initiative focused on supporting ombudspersons in research institutions. These collaborative efforts involve international partners and integrate digital tools for data analysis, annotation, and dissemination.

• Contrastive Linguistics
• Spanish-Italian Bilingual Lexicography
• History of Language Teaching
• +4 more

Félix San Vicente Santiago is a Professor at the Department of Interpreting and Translation , Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna . He has also been affiliated with the Department of Political and Social Sciences and directed the CLIRO Language Center (2002-2012) and CIRSIL (Interuniversity Research Center on the History of Language Teaching). Graduated in Romance Philology (1974) and Modern Literature (1977). Specializes in contrastive linguistics , Spanish-Italian bilingual lexicography , and the history of language teaching . Active in academic conferences and research projects like LITIAS and HISOleta . Research Interests His research spans contrastive grammar , historical development of bilingual dictionaries , and sociolinguistic aspects of Spanish and Italian . He investigates language teaching methods , ideological influences in lexicography , and cross-cultural communication . Projects : CIRSIL, CLIRO, Contrastiva, Epigrama, LITIAS. Grants : Not specified in text but involved in long-term research initiatives. Labs & Collaborations He leads the Contrastiva portal, integrating historical and modern studies of Spanish-Italian linguistic interaction. Collaborates with teams on paratext analysis , parallel corpora , and grammatical repertoires .

• Historical Linguistics
• Romance Languages
• Lexicology
• +8 more

Angela Bianchi is a tenured Professor at the University of Macerata's Department of Humanities - Languages, Mediation, History, Literature, Philosophy, with a focus on Glottology and Linguistics (GLOT-01/A). She holds a National Scientific Qualification as a First-Level University Professor until 2037. Historical Linguistics Leopardi's Linguistic Theories Saussurean Language Studies Metalanguage Analysis Applied Linguistics (pathological speech) Italian Language Teaching Her research explores the evolution of Romance languages from Latin, metalanguage in Port-Royal grammar, and interdisciplinary connections between linguistics, philosophy, and digital cultures. Recent publications focus on syntactic theories in European metalanguage and terminological development in historical contexts. Scientific awards include the Giacomo Leopardi Prize for PhD and Master's theses. She coordinates orientation activities for humanities students and contributes to editorial boards like Aretè and Digital Universities .

Maria Eugenia Sainz GonzalezView profile

Associate Professor

• Hispanic Linguistics
• Pragmatics
• Spanish Language
• +3 more

Maria Eugenia Sainz Gonzalez is an Associate Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, affiliated with the Department of Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies. She holds roles as Delegate for the Third Mission and President of the Third Mission Committee - SLCC Department. Her academic work focuses on Hispanic Linguistics, Pragmatics, and Spanish Language Studies. Teaching activities include courses on Spanish language, translation, and comparative literature across undergraduate and graduate programs such as LINGUE E LETTERATURE EUROPEE, AMERICANE E POSTCOLONIALI (LM3) and LINGUE, CULTURE E SOCIETÀ MODERNE E SCIENZE DEL LINGUAGGIO (R352). Courses emphasize advanced language proficiency, dialectal variations, and translation techniques. Research interests span Pragmatics of Spanish, Discourse Markers, Inclusive Language, and didactics of Spanish as a foreign language. She leads projects on discourse markers’ syntactic/semantic roles, experimental processing studies, and sociolinguistic variation. Her work involves collaborations with researchers like Laura Nadal Sanchis and Florencio Del Barrio de la Rosa. Publications (2023-2024) include studies on inclusive language processing, discourse marker analysis, and Colombian Spanish variation. She contributes to editorial boards of journals like Biblioteca de Babel and Rassegna Iberistica , and peer-review for multiple linguistics publications. Research funding includes an ATENEO Ca' Foscari grant for a project on verbal serial constructions. She participates in the DICROM lab for Romance language comparative studies.

• Portuguese Linguistics
• Language Policy
• Functional Linguistics
• +3 more

Dr. Vania Cristina Casseb Galvão is a Senior Researcher at the Department of Humanistic Studies (University of Salento, Italy) and Full Professor at the Federal University of Goiás (Brazil). She specializes in Portuguese linguistics, language policy, and functional grammar. Her work focuses on Brazilian Portuguese grammar, historical linguistics, and applied linguistics in education. Education: PhD in Linguistics from Universidade Estadual Paulista (2001), M.A. in Linguistics from Universidade Estadual de Campinas (1999). Postdoctoral research at Sapienza University of Rome (2021) and other institutions. Research interests include: grammatical analysis of Portuguese, sociolinguistic policy, language change, and pedagogical applications of functional linguistics. Recent projects include leadership of the 'Grammar of Portuguese' initiative (2016–2019) and co-editing of multiple volumes on Portuguese syntax and heritage language. Publications span theoretical linguistics, historical grammar, and language education with a focus on cross-linguistic comparisons and practical teaching methodologies. Awards include CNPq Research Productivity Fellowship (2010–present) and ERC-funded research collaborations. Teaching includes Portuguese language courses at undergraduate/graduate levels and supervision of academic projects in linguistics. Active in academic organizations such as the Centro-Oeste Linguagem Group (2014–2017) and SIMELP (2013).

Iliana KRAPOVAView profile

Associate Professor

• Slavic Linguistics
• Balkan Linguistics
• Comparative Syntax
• +3 more

Dr. Iliana Krapova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. She specializes in Slavic and Balkan linguistics, with expertise in comparative syntax, Bulgarian dialectology, and grammaticalization processes. Her research focuses on the structural and areal linguistics of South Slavic languages, particularly exploring contact-induced changes and syntactic variation in Balkan-Slavic dialects. Education & Career : Holds a PhD in General and Comparative Linguistics from Plovdiv University (1996). She has taught at over 20 international institutions including the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Fulbright Scholar), University of Edinburgh, Charles University Prague, and Indiana University. At Ca' Foscari since 2005, she teaches Slavic Linguistics and Bulgarian language courses. Research & Affiliations : Active in interdisciplinary projects like the Latsis Foundation-funded documentation of endangered languages. Member of the Commission for Balkan Studies (International Committee of Slavists), Editorial Board of Studi Slavistici , and editor of Balcania et Slavia . Her work bridges formal syntax analysis with sociolinguistic contexts, emphasizing cross-disciplinary approaches to language contact and heritage preservation. Grants & Leadership : Led national and international projects including MURST-MIUR-funded studies on functional categories (2008-2012) and a PRIN project mapping grammatical features (2007-2009). Serves on scientific committees for conferences like 'Formal Description of Slavic Languages' (Leipzig/Göttingen) and 'Formal Approaches to South Slavic Languages' (Dubrovnik). Labs & Teams : Affiliated with the Research Institute for Digital and Cultural Heritage , integrating digital tools for linguistic analysis and cultural documentation.

Maria RoccaforteView profile

Associate Professor

• Educational Linguistics
• Italian Sign Language (LIS)
• Psycholinguistics
• +6 more

Maria Roccaforte is an Associate Professor at the Department of Modern Literature and Culture, Sapienza University of Rome. Her work bridges educational linguistics, Italian Sign Language (LIS) studies, and inclusive pedagogy for deaf learners. Current projects include FIS LIS-A (Italian Sign Language Assessment) and MEMOLIS (Methodologies for LIS Teaching). PhD in Documentary, Linguistic and Literary Sciences (2016) Coordinator of Erasmus language courses (2011-2018) Collaborator with CLA (Sapienza Linguistic Center) Research focuses on eye-tracking in second-language acquisition, LIS linguistic description (particularly non-manual components), and adaptive teaching methodologies for sensory-impaired learners. She integrates computational methods with learner corpora to develop Italian L2 resources. Neuro-psycholinguistic approaches Deaf education frameworks Sign language acquisition tools Her recent publications (2023-2025) cover LIS assessment, phraseology in L2 teaching, and technology-enhanced language learning. She supervises theses requiring in-person engagement and strict timelines for Italian Didactics and LIS research.

• Arabic Linguistics
• Arabic Grammar
• Manuscript Studies
• +4 more

Maurizio Bagatin is a fixed-term researcher (RTDA) at the University of Bergamo's Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, specializing in Arabic linguistics and literature. His academic roles include teaching courses in Arabic language (linguistics/translation), culture, and literature for undergraduate and graduate programs. Previously, he taught at the University of Turin and contributed to curriculum development for institutions including the Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza. His research examines the evolution of Arabic linguistic thought, grammatical metalinguistics, relationships between linguistic/juridical-philosophical sciences, premodern Arabic literature, and Arabic-Islamic manuscript traditions. Key projects include coordinating research on Arabic grammatical tradition (2024-2027), collaborating on literary Arabic grammars (2020-2022), and participating in the Kitāb Sībawayhi Project (2019-present). Publications focus on Arabic grammatical theory, linguistic variation (notably Ibn Khaldūn's work), and manuscript studies, with recurring themes of diachronic analysis, translation challenges, and pedagogical applications of classical texts. Recent articles explore verbal aspect phenomena and medieval grammatical frameworks. Bagatin serves on editorial boards for linguistics journals ( L&F – Linguistica e Filologia and Kervan ), reviews for the Israel Science Foundation, and contributes to cataloging Arabic manuscripts for antiquarian collections.

Anna CardinalettiView profile

Professor

• Linguistics
• Syntax
• Romance Languages
• +9 more

Anna Cardinaletti is a Full Professor at the Department of Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. She serves as Referent for Student Relations and Disability. Her research focuses on syntax, Romance languages, bilingualism, language acquisition, and sign language studies. Key areas include clitic placement in Italian, syntactic development in children with learning difficulties, and accessibility in language testing for students with disabilities. Her work spans theoretical linguistics, applied linguistics, and clinical linguistics. Notable contributions include studies on Italian verb-based discourse particles, indefinite determiners in Italo-Romance dialects, and syntactic training methodologies for dyslexic and bilingual learners. She has also pioneered accessible language testing protocols for deaf students and those with special educational needs (DSA). Her recent research (2020-2025) emphasizes syntax-morphology interfaces, cliticization processes, and the role of morphosyntactic skills in reading comprehension. She has authored major works like Grande grammatica italiana di consultazione and co-edited volumes on bilingualism and sign language documentation. Cardinaletti's interdisciplinary approach bridges formal linguistics with practical applications in education and accessibility, making significant contributions to both academic and societal domains.

• Theoretical Linguistics
• Syntax-Phonology Interface
• Syntactic Categories
• +8 more

Salvatore MENZA is an Associate Professor in the Department of Glottology and Linguistics at the University of Catania, where he is also qualified as a full professor in the GLOT-01/A research program since December 2023. He is an active researcher and teacher in theoretical and applied linguistics, with a focus on language contact, syntactic theory, and digital applications in linguistics. His research interests are centered on theoretical linguistics, particularly syntactic categories and the interface between syntax and phonology. He also specializes in interlinguistics, with a strong emphasis on microcontact phenomena in Gallo-Italic dialects of Sicily. His work extends into lexicography and language teaching, especially in digital environments and heritage language contexts. His recent publications reflect a consistent trajectory in language contact, dialectology, and theoretical syntax. He investigates how syntactic structures interact with phonological constraints, how auxiliary selection operates in Italian, and how Gallo-Italic enclaves maintain linguistic identity. His digital pedagogy work highlights innovative teaching methods using student-built resources and online platforms. Salvatore MENZA leads the PRIN 2022 PNRR project "Contact-induced change and sociolinguistics: an experimental study on the Gallo-Italic dialects of Sicily," demonstrating significant research leadership. He is a member of the Scientific Council of the Center for Sicilian Philological and Linguistic Studies, contributing to major lexicographic projects such as the Vocabolario siciliano and historical-etymological dictionaries of Sicilian and Gallicisms. He supervises several thesis students, with topics ranging from linguistic interference in bilingual conversation to enantiosemy and auxiliary selection. His office hours are held weekly via Microsoft Teams, and he encourages students to develop personalized study guides based on course materials.

• Spanish-Italian Lexicography
• Phraseology
• Contrastive Linguistics
• +4 more

Federica Fragapane is an Adjunct Professor of Spanish Language, Translation, and Linguistics at the Department of Humanities , University of Catania. Her academic work centers on Spanish-Italian bilingual lexicography from synchronic and diachronic perspectives, with a focus on phraseology, metalexicography, and diatopic variation in Spanish. Email: federicafragapane@yahoo.it Office: Room 139 Office Hours: Tuesday 15:00-16:00 (in-person), Friday 09:00-10:00 (Teams) Her research explores plurilexical units in bilingual dictionaries, emphasizing pragmatic markers, syntactic collocations, and cultural mediation. She has supervised thesis topics on phraseology in advertising, bilingual culture, and semantic-contrastive analysis. Her publications span specialized dictionaries, phraseological databases, and pedagogical applications of fraseology in Spanish-Italian lexicography. Recent works address technical terminology in music, diatopic variation, and figurative language treatment in bilingual repertoires. She teaches Spanish Language and Translation 1 (L20) and Spanish Language and Translation 2 (L20+L11), conducting exams and ongoing assessments at the Department of Humanities.

• Linguistics
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psycholinguistics
• +5 more

Veronica Bressan is a Contract Lecturer (Lecturer) at the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice. She holds a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience and Philosophy of Mind from IUSS Pavia (2021–2025), an MA in Language and Mind: Linguistics and Cognitive Studies from the University of Siena (2018–2021), and a BA in Humanistic Studies from the University of Trieste (2015–2018), with Erasmus+ mobility at Freie Universität Berlin (2017–2018). PhD (2025): Cognitive Neuroscience and Philosophy of Mind, IUSS Pavia MA (2021): Language and Mind, University of Siena BA (2018): Humanistic Studies, University of Trieste Her research focuses on the syntax-pragmatics interface, particularly scalar implicatures and D-linking in Italian, examining how feature inclusion and intervention effects shape early grammars. She employs experimental methodologies to study language acquisition and contributes to computational linguistics through projects like BLiMP-IT, a benchmark for evaluating Italian language models. Her work intersects theoretical linguistics with cognitive modeling and artificial intelligence. Veronica actively presents her research at international conferences (e.g., GLOW47, IGG50, XPrag X) and participates in invited seminars, including CISCL Research Seminars and LiVe Lunch. She has contributed to organizing academic events like IGG49 at IUSS Pavia and collaborates with scholars such as Adriana Belletti and Christopher Chesi. Her teaching includes contributions to 'Psycholinguistics' in the Master's program in Language Sciences at Ca' Foscari.