Support Announcement:

Level:	PhD
Duty:	Research
Linguistic Field(s):	Anthropological Linguistics Language and cognition; Language documentation; psycholinguistics
Application Deadline:	19-Oct-2012
Supporting Institution:	University of Newcastle, Australia / Monash University Linguistics
LL Issue:	23.3910
Posted:	20-Sep-2012
Support Description:	Two PhD positions are available, associated with the Australian Research Council funded project 'Thinking and talking about atolls: the role of environment in shaping language and our understanding of physical space.' One position will be based at University of Newcastle (Newcastle, Australia), the other at Monash University (Melbourne, Australia). A good undergraduate degree in linguistics is required, preferably a first-class Honours degree or Master's degree. Deadline for applications: October 19, 2012 (or until filled) Start date: Late 2012, early 2013 Two positions are available for PhD students to conduct research on the role of the environment in shaping systems of linguistic spatial reference. The project will use field-based investigation of languages spoken on atolls to test hypotheses on correlations between the physical environment in which a language is spoken and aspects of that language's system of spatial reference, particularly relating to absolute frame of reference. The subproject associated with one PhD will involve field research on the Marshallese language, primarily in the Marshall Islands but also in the United States. The second PhD subproject will involve field research on the Dhivehi language of the Maldives. Applicants will require solid undergraduate training in linguistics, ideally with some training in the application of experimental methodologies. We are especially interested in applicants with an interest in the relationship between language and cognition, ideally with some background in spatial language. Some knowledge of Austronesian or Indo-Aryan languages will be helpful. The Marshallese subproject will be housed in the Endangered Languages Documentation, Theory and Application Research Group at the University of Newcastle, and will be supervised by Dr Bill Palmer. The Maldives subproject will be housed in the Department of Linguistics at Monash University and will be supervised by Dr Alice Gaby. Both will form part of a team of researchers including Palmer and Gaby and one other PhD student. Applications should be sent AS EMAIL ATTACHMENTS directly to both Palmer and Gaby, and should include a covering letter outlining your relevant training and experience, a CV, and transcripts of your academic history. Applications should be sent to Dr Bill Palmer and Dr Alice Gaby for more information.
Application Mailing Address:	Email applications as attachments to: bill.palmer@newcastle.edu.au and alice.gaby@monash.edu
Contact Information:	Dr Bill Palmer bill.palmer@newcastle.edu.au