Michael Hornsby

Michael Hornsby is a Professor at the Faculty of English, Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) in Poznań, Poland, where he is affiliated with the Celtic Department. He holds a D.Litt. in linguistics from AMU and has built a distinguished career in sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology, focusing on minority and endangered languages such as Breton, Welsh, Sorbian, and Yiddish.

His research centers on the dynamics of language revitalization, the role of 'new speakers' in sustaining minority languages, linguistic authenticity, identity construction, and the impact of globalization on speech communities. He has led and contributed to numerous international research projects, including EU-funded initiatives like COST Action IS1306 and FP7 INNET, and has been a project leader for the documentation of Yiddish in Poland.

• NCN OPUS grant on language revitalization without native speakers (2019–2022)
• Short Term Scientific Missions Coordinator for COST Action IS1306
• Editor-in-Chief of Studia Celtica Posnaniensia
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions evaluator
• Member of the Language Vitality in Social Context workgroup (Smithsonian Institution)

Hornsby's recent publications explore the sociolinguistic boundaries of speaker legitimacy, the hierarchization of regional languages, and innovative transmission models. His work consistently emphasizes the ideological, social, and emotional dimensions of language revival, particularly in Celtic and Central European contexts.

He has received the AMU Rector's Prize for research achievements and serves on editorial and scientific boards, including Sociolinguistic Studies and the International Symposium on Bilingualism. His extensive conference participation across Europe, North America, and Asia underscores his global academic engagement.

Hornsby has also been active in teacher training and educational outreach, having taught in the UK and Poland, and delivered Erasmus mobility lectures in France. His work bridges academic research with practical revitalization efforts, especially in community-based and educational settings.