Xu Song Dan

Xu Song Dan is an Exceptional Category Professor (Professeur de classe exceptionnelle) at INALCO since 2013, leading the Chinese Department. Previously, she held roles including Full Professor (2003–2013), Associate Professor (1995–2003), and Lecturer positions at INALCO and University of Paris 7. She has been an associate researcher at CNRS’s CRLAO since 1991, and previously worked at China’s CASS (1987–1991).

• Research Focus: Language typology, excavated Chinese texts, diachronic syntax, language contacts, and interdisciplinary studies linking linguistics with genetics.
• Honors: Senior Member of France’s University Institute of France (IUF, 2009–2014), ERC Advanced Grant PI (TRAM project, 2020–2025).
• Leadership: Served as Dean of INALCO’s Chinese Department (2001–2004), first President of the French Association for Chinese Research & Teaching, and member of INALCO’s Scientific Committee (2007–2018).

She holds honorary professorships at four Chinese universities and has secured major research grants including two ANR projects as PI.