Elisabeth de Boer

Elisabeth de Boer is a Professor of Japanese Linguistics at the Ruhr University Bochum, affiliated with the Faculty of East Asian Studies and the Japanese Language and Literature research group. She was awarded an ERC Starting Grant in 2016 for her project on the genealogical tree of Japanese and its historical distribution routes.

• PhD in Japanese Linguistics from Leiden University (2005)
• Research experience at Hokkaido University (Japan) and University of Maryland (USA)
• Joined Ruhr University Bochum’s faculty since February 2017

Her research focuses on tracing the origins and dissemination of the Japanese language, combining linguistic analysis with historical and geographical methodologies. The ERC-funded project (2016–) explores how Japanese spread across Japan, offering insights into cultural and migratory patterns.

Scientific Awards:

• ERC Starting Grant (2016)