Gabriele Diewald

Gabriele Diewald is a Professor of German Linguistics at the Department of German and Applied Linguistics, Leibniz University Hannover. She holds a habilitation in German linguistics and has held academic positions including Vice President for Teaching and Visiting Professorships at institutions like the University of São Paulo. Her research focuses on grammaticalization, language change, pragmatics, and gender-fair language use, with significant contributions to linguistic theory and public discourse on gendered language norms.

Education & Career:

• PhD in German Linguistics (1990), University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
• Habilitation (1998), Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg
• Visiting Scholar at Stanford University (1996–1997)
• Professorships at University of Hamburg (2000–2001) and Leibniz University Hannover (since 2001)
• Vice President for Teaching, Leibniz University Hannover (2007–2012)

Research Interests: Diewald’s work bridges theoretical linguistics and societal applications, particularly in gender-fair language. She analyzes grammaticalization processes, pragmatic functions of language, and the sociopolitical dimensions of linguistic change. Her studies address how language reflects and shapes gender norms, with critiques of traditional linguistic assumptions and advocacy for inclusive language practices.

Publications & Impact: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles and books, including co-authored Duden guides on gender-fair language (e.g., Handbuch geschlechtergerechte Sprache). Her research appears in journals like Linguistische Berichte and Constructions & Frames, addressing topics from modal particles to evidentiality in German. She also engages public debates via media interviews (e.g., NZZ, Tagesspiegel) and policy consultations on gender-sensitive language in education and governance.

Contributions: Editor of volumes on grammaticalization, construction grammar, and gender linguistics. Active in interdisciplinary initiatives like the Leibniz Institute for the German Language’s Empirical Gender Linguistics project. Her work emphasizes the societal role of linguistics, advocating for linguists to address cultural and political challenges.