Rafał Augustyn

Rafał Augustyn is an Assistant Professor (adiunkt) at the Department of Applied Linguistics within the Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) in Lublin, Poland. He holds a PhD (2011) and MA (2009) from UMCS, with doctoral research on cognitive linguistic analysis of noun-to-verb conversion in English, complemented by executive training at Ivey Business School, Western University, Canada.

His research integrates cognitive linguistics and translation studies, focusing on: cognitive semantics of legal language, conceptual blending in multimodal communication, neosemantization processes, and discourse analysis of sociopolitical narratives (e.g., COVID-19 xenophobia). Recent work examines audiovisual translation cognition and dehumanizing metaphors.

Augustyn leads multiple academic initiatives: directing postgraduate programs in Sworn/Specialized Translation and Interpreting, serving as deputy editor-in-chief of Annales UMCS Sectio FF (2016–2020), and participating in faculty committees for doctoral studies and education quality. His research has been recognized with the Rector's Award (2017) and a nomination for the L. Petrażycki Prize (2020).

As principal investigator or senior researcher, he contributes to projects including:

• Placebo and Nocebo for Translators (NCN OPUS 26, 2024–2027): modeling anticipatory cognition in translation
• ISPEAK (EU Smart Growth Program): VR applications for language learning
• Metaphors in Legal Language (NCN, 2014–2017): conceptual tools in Polish juridical discourse

He teaches courses in consecutive interpreting, specialized terminology, and cognitive approaches to translation.