Hielke Vriesendorp

Hielke Vriesendorp is an Assistant Professor in English Linguistics at Utrecht University's Department of Languages, Literature and Communication within the Faculty of Humanities. Specializing in language structure, variation, and change, Vriesendorp teaches research methods, statistics, and courses on language variation in English, Dutch, and Frisian.

Dr. Vriesendorp's research spans several interconnected domains within sociolinguistics, with particular focus on gender and sexuality in language, speech perception, language variation and change, and experimental linguistics. Their work combines macro, meso, and micro approaches to investigate linguistic phenomena, particularly in the context of queer linguistics and non-binary language. Vriesendorp employs experimental methods and statistical analysis (using R programming) to examine how social meaning is processed in language, with specific attention to accents, pronouns, and phonetic features.

The researcher's publication record reveals a strong trajectory examining non-binary language and queer linguistics, particularly regarding Dutch non-binary pronouns (die/diens and hen/hun). Simultaneously, Vriesendorp maintains significant work on Northern English dialects, investigating accent recognition, dialect levelling, and phonetic variation across urban centers like Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, and Newcastle. This dual focus demonstrates expertise in both experimental sociolinguistics and the sociopolitical dimensions of language variation.

As an active academic, Vriesendorp regularly presents research at international conferences, with numerous invited talks and poster presentations from 2021-2025. Their work bridges theoretical linguistics with practical applications in survey research methodology, particularly regarding inclusive gender question design. The research contributes significantly to understanding how language variation reflects and shapes social identity, with implications for linguistic theory, language education, and social policy.