Yolandi Ribbens-Klein

Yolandi Ribbens-Klein is an Associate Professor in the Department of Language and Literature at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Faculty of Humanities. She specializes in sociolinguistics and sociophonetics, focusing on multilingual societies and the intersection of phonetic variation with identities, ideologies, and belonging. Previously, she held academic positions at the University of Cape Town, University of Duisburg-Essen, and Stellenbosch University, where she contributed to research on sociolinguistics and language variation.

Dr. Ribbens-Klein earned her PhD in Linguistics from the University of Cape Town under Professors Rajend Mesthrie and Ana Deumert. Her postdoctoral research included roles in Prof. Mesthrie’s SARChI project on Language, Migration and Social Change, and at the University of Duisburg-Essen’s Sociolinguistics Lab under Prof. Isabelle Buchstaller.

Her research interests revolve around sociolinguistics and sociophonetics, particularly in multilingual contexts. Key areas include the study of English phonetic variation, the embodiment of identities through language, and the sociolinguistic dynamics of migration and social change. She has explored these themes in South Africa, Germany, and beyond, with a focus on World Englishes and the impact of multilingualism on youth language practices.

Dr. Ribbens-Klein has advised students such as Kristina Nielsen and Hana Gustafsson. Her research has been supported through collaborations with international projects, including the SARChI initiative and the INT PART network, fostering interdisciplinary work across institutions in South Africa, Norway, and beyond.

She contributed to establishing the Sociolinguistics Lab at the University of Duisburg-Essen and has collaborated with institutions like MultiLing (University of Oslo) and the University of Michigan on projects exploring linguistic displacement and multilingualism.