Susanne Maria Michaelis

Susanne Maria Michaelis is a comparative linguist affiliated with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution) and Leipzig University. Her research focuses on creole languages, sign languages, and language contact. She co-edited the seminal Atlas of Pidgin and Creole Language Structures (2013) and leads projects on grammaticalization and language complexity. Her career includes roles as Research Scientist (PI), guest researcher, and postdoctoral researcher at institutions such as the Max Planck Institutes and Leipzig University.

Education:

• M.A. in Romance Philology & Linguistics (University of Freiburg, 1988)
• Ph.D. in Romance Philology (University of Freiburg, 1991)

Research Interests: She investigates creole typology, grammaticalization processes, and sociolinguistic factors shaping language structure. Her work emphasizes comparing creole languages' grammatical patterns and their lexical sources, with a focus on European lexifiers and substrate influences. She also explores language evolution in contact scenarios and emerging sign language systems.

Recent Article Trends: Her work analyzes grammatical complexity across languages, the stability of creole grammars during emergence, and the role of societal factors in linguistic structures. Key themes include robust grammar transmission, functional adaptation in syntax, and cross-linguistic parallels between creoles and sign languages.

Grants & Leadership: Currently leads the DFG-AHRC project on cross-modal grammaticalization (2023–2026). Previously coordinated ERC-funded projects on grammatical universals and language typology. Active in scholarly networks and editorial roles for major linguistic publications.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates within the Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution at MPI, focusing on global language datasets and computational linguistics. Works closely with interdisciplinary teams studying language evolution and sociolinguistic dynamics.