LINGUIST List 26.3611

Wed Aug 12 2015

Jobs: Baltic; Slavic; Russian; General Linguistics; Historical Linguistics: Principal Investigator, University of Mainz

Editor for this issue: Andrew Lamont <alamontlinguistlist.org>


Date: 11-Aug-2015
From: Björn Wiemer <wiemerbuni-mainz.de>
Subject: Baltic; Slavic; Russian; General Linguistics; Historical Linguistics: Principal Investigator, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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University or Organization: University of Mainz
Department: TriMCo-Project, Department of Slavic Studies
Job Location: Mainz, Germany
Web Address: https://www.trimco.uni-mainz.de/
Job Title: Full position of the principal investigator

Job Rank: Researcher

Specialty Areas: General Linguistics; Historical Linguistics

Required Language(s): Russian (rus)
                            Baltic
                            Slavic

Description:

The project “Triangulation Approach for Modelling Convergence with a High Zoom-In Factor” (TriMCo) has to offer a full position of a principal investigator for the period Jan. 2016-Feb. 2017. The DFG-financed project is hosted at Mainz University under the guidance of Björn Wiemer.

Payscale: TVL-EG 13, 100%, January 2016 – February 2017 (13 months)

JGU Mainz, project TriMCo (see https://www.trimco.uni-mainz.de/)

The project aims at methodological triangulation of factors that contribute to structural convergence in a small-scale area among (for the most part) closely related varieties, namely the Baltic-Slavic contact zone situated at the intersection of East Slavic and Baltic dialects (Lithuania, Belarus, Latgalia/Latvia). In connection with this the project also pursues the aim of profiling this small area by mapping it onto the background of increasingly larger concentric areas. Among other issues, we are inquiring into the following type of questions: Which features can really claim to have arisen as exclusive innovations (or archaisms)? How are particular features “inserted” into larger clines? How do different clines intersect in the chosen small area? How can features of different complexity be weighed against each other as for their significance in constituting a ‘contact superposition zone’? How can we account for less spectacular features in order to profile the region on the background of larger clines?

In parallel, a corpus of dialectal speech for East Slavic and Baltic dialects involved in that area is being built up, and it will be enhanced further.

Applicants are required to have:

- PhD in Slavic, Baltic or General Linguistics (but with a research focus on Slavic and/or Baltic).
- Good knowledge of Russian and at least one of the Baltic languages (Latvian (Latgalian), Lithuanian); additional knowledge of Belarusian and/or Polish is a plus.
- Fluent command of English (written and spoken).

Preference will be given to candidates with the following skills:

- Experience in corpus linguistics (the project’s corpus is run on ELAN)
- Experience with related computer tools
- At least basic skills in statistics is a plus
- Research experience in the following linguistic areas: areal linguistics, dialect geography and dialectometry, language variation
- Knowledge in diachronic linguistics (in particular of the Baltic-Slavic region)
- Communicative competence and ability to work in a team
- Knowledge of German is another plus

The successful applicant will be given a chance to develop her/his own agenda. This should be done in tight connection with the agenda of the project, which is research on language contact phenomena between Baltic and East Slavic including regional Polish. The research should be based on the TriMCo Dialect Corpus that is being created within the project.

More information about the project may be found on https://www.trimco.uni-mainz.de/.

Applications (CV, publication list, diploma, letter of motivation) should be sent to Prof. Dr. Björn Wiemer at the application address below.

Deadline of application: Sept., 20, 2015.

Application Deadline: 20-Sep-2015
Mailing Address for Applications:
Prof. Dr. Björn Wiemer
Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Institut für Slavistik
Jakob-Welder-Weg 18
Mainz D- 55128
Germany
Email Address for Applications: wiemerbuni-mainz.de
Contact Information:
Prof. Dr. Björn Wiemer
Email: wiemerbuni-mainz.de

Page Updated: 12-Aug-2015