Benjamin Slade

Benjamin Slade is an Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Utah (2020–present). He previously served as Assistant Professor at the University of Utah (2013–2020) and Visiting Senior Lecturer at the University of Texas at Arlington (2011–2013).

• Education: PhD in Linguistics (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011), MA in Linguistics (2008) and Cognitive Science (2004), BA in English (Johns Hopkins, 1999).

His research focuses on formal and historical linguistics, particularly semantics/syntax. Key areas include:

• Quantifier particles in cross-linguistic contexts
• Aspectual adverbials across languages
• Focus identification and labelling
• Sinhala and Dravidian historical syntax
• South Asian languages (Sanskrit, Hindi, Sinhala, Malayalam)
• Germanic languages (Old English, Old Norse)
• Hungarian linguistic features
• Morphological innovation in subcultures (e.g., Rastafari English, cyberpunk discourse)

Recent publications examine verb-verb complexes in Indo-Aryan languages, aspectual adverbials in Hungarian, and semantic continuity from Old to Modern South Asian languages. His work combines formal analysis with diachronic investigation.

Scientific Awards & Fellowships

• Dissertation Completion Fellowship (University of Illinois, 2010)
• FLAS Fellowship (University of Illinois, 2008)
• Cognitive Science/Artificial Intelligence Award (Beckman Institute, 2008)
• Jacob K. Javits Fellowship (US Department of Education, 2000)
• IGERT Fellowship (NSF, 1999)

Slade teaches courses in historical linguistics, semantics, and language & social justice. His work bridges theoretical linguistics with cultural and historical analysis.