Iliana KRAPOVA

Dr. Iliana Krapova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice. She specializes in Slavic and Balkan linguistics, with expertise in comparative syntax, Bulgarian dialectology, and grammaticalization processes. Her research focuses on the structural and areal linguistics of South Slavic languages, particularly exploring contact-induced changes and syntactic variation in Balkan-Slavic dialects.

Education & Career: Holds a PhD in General and Comparative Linguistics from Plovdiv University (1996). She has taught at over 20 international institutions including the University of Massachusetts Amherst (Fulbright Scholar), University of Edinburgh, Charles University Prague, and Indiana University. At Ca' Foscari since 2005, she teaches Slavic Linguistics and Bulgarian language courses.

Research & Affiliations: Active in interdisciplinary projects like the Latsis Foundation-funded documentation of endangered languages. Member of the Commission for Balkan Studies (International Committee of Slavists), Editorial Board of Studi Slavistici, and editor of Balcania et Slavia. Her work bridges formal syntax analysis with sociolinguistic contexts, emphasizing cross-disciplinary approaches to language contact and heritage preservation.

Grants & Leadership: Led national and international projects including MURST-MIUR-funded studies on functional categories (2008-2012) and a PRIN project mapping grammatical features (2007-2009). Serves on scientific committees for conferences like 'Formal Description of Slavic Languages' (Leipzig/Göttingen) and 'Formal Approaches to South Slavic Languages' (Dubrovnik).

Labs & Teams: Affiliated with the Research Institute for Digital and Cultural Heritage, integrating digital tools for linguistic analysis and cultural documentation.