معرفی
Eleanor Dickey is a Professor of Classics at the University of Reading, where she has been a faculty member since 2013. She holds the position of Professor of Classics and oversees Study Abroad programs. Prior to her appointment at Reading, she taught at the University of Ottawa (1995-99), Columbia University (1999-2007), and the University of Exeter (2007-13). She is actively involved with the Centre for Language, Text, and Power (CeLM) research group at Reading and teaches regularly at the JACT Greek summer school in Bryanston, where she co-directed a student performance of Alcestis in Greek in 2010. She also runs the Reading Ancient Schoolroom, an annual event that recreates the ancient school experience for modern students.
Dickey received her BA and MA from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania in 1989, followed by an MPhil from Balliol College, Oxford in 1991, and a DPhil from Merton College, Oxford in 1994. Her doctoral work was conducted under the supervision of Anna Morpurgo Davies. Notably, she began studying Greek at age 18, which gives her particular empathy for students who begin ancient languages at university.
Professor Dickey's research spans multiple interconnected areas within Classics and Linguistics, all centered around rigorous analysis of language to illuminate ancient texts and thought processes. Her primary interests include the sociolinguistics of Greek and Latin, examining how factors like age, gender, and social class influenced ancient language use; the historical development of these languages from Indo-European through antiquity; ancient scholarship and language teaching practices; and language contact in antiquity, particularly focusing on Greek speakers learning Latin and the influence of Latin on Greek. Her work demonstrates exceptional interdisciplinary approaches that bridge Classics and Linguistics.
Her publication record reveals a clear scholarly trajectory from early work on forms of address in Greek and Latin to more comprehensive studies of ancient language contact, scholarship, and pedagogy. Recent publications focus on Latin loanwords in Ancient Greek, the Hermeneumata Pseudodositheana texts, and ancient language teaching methodologies. Her work consistently combines deep philological expertise with linguistic theory, making significant contributions to both fields while maintaining accessibility for educators and students.
- Mellon Foundation support
- AHRC funding
- British Academy grants
- Leverhulme Trust support
- Fellowships at Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton
- Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington DC
- All Souls College Oxford
Professor Dickey is deeply committed to teaching and educational innovation. Despite her impressive research output, she has stated that she "love[s] teaching even more" than research because it allows her to "pass on to others the precious gift my teachers gave me, namely knowing Latin and Greek really well." Her dedication to pedagogy is evident in her numerous educational publications designed to make ancient languages more accessible to modern learners, including textbooks and adapted versions of ancient language-learning materials. Her work with the Reading Ancient Schoolroom demonstrates her innovative approach to teaching ancient languages and culture through experiential learning.
Professor Dickey is actively involved with the Centre for Language, Text, and Power (CeLM) research group at the University of Reading. Her collaborative work extends beyond her institution through numerous co-authored publications and international research visits. She is married to Philomen Probert, a classical linguist at Wolfson College Oxford, with whom she has co-authored scholarly work, creating a productive academic partnership that spans institutions.
