My academic story

since 2019: ICREA, at UPF

Current Research Interactional language as a window into the human mind. The relation between language, thought and communication. The relation between language and emotions. The language of self-talk. Language in Human-Machine interaction. Language Variation in neuro-diversity

1996-2020: UBC

Postdoc. (1996-2001) Theoretical descriptions of categories in Halkomelem Pronouns Assistant Prof. (2001-2007) Cross-linguistic variation in categorial inventories (tense, mass count, D, ...) Associate Prof. (2007-2014)The relation between sound, meaning, and categoriesTowards A formal typology of categories The Universal Spine Hypothesis Full Prof. 2014-2019 Interactional language The interactional spine hypothesis

1987-1995: Vienna

Doctor der Philosophie1995
Dissertation: IDs in Syntax and Discourse. An analysis of extraposition in German

Why am I a linguist?

When I was in elementary school I loved grammar. Identifying categories and the function of constituents was a fascinating game to me. I liked it. But I didn't know why. And I didn't know that it could ever be a useful thing to do. I forgot about it, until I took my first linguistics course at the University of Vienna. By accident. I wanted to become an actress but didn't get into the academy. So I decided to study German philology and journalism. That's where I took my first linguistics class
I really liked linguistics. And I still didn't know what it was that I liked. But it didn't really matter . I pursued it. I found syntax. And I really liked syntax. I loved drawing trees.
I became a syntactician. I still love drawing trees. It doesn't matter why I love it. The important thing is that I do and I'm grateful that I have been able to pursue what I love for more than half my life now.