My academic story
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
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.
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.