PhD Position, Utrecht Institute of Linguistics, Netherlands

October 10, 2008

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Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS also offers

1 PhD position in Syntax (1,0 fte)

Institute UiL OTS has approximately 100 affiliated researchers, including 19 full professors, 15 post-docs and about 40 PhD students. UiL OTS’s aim is to further scientific research into language, speech and language use. UiL OTS hosts the Dutch National Research School in Linguistics LOT.

Program. This PhD position is part of a five-year research program concerning syntax-semantics interface, funded by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (project number PR-06-99). The goal of the program is to investigate and understand the cross-linguistic properties of marking on non-verbal predicates (predicate case, copulas and copular particles). The program will develop a theory of non-verbal predicate marking and use it to explain the cross-linguistic variation observed in this domain.

The program comprises one PhD project, whose goal within the project is to collect and analyze cross-linguistic data on copular particles.

PhD project (starting date between 1-9-2008 and 1-1.2009): The goal of this PhD project is to investigate cross-linguistic distribution and properties of copular particles. Descriptive grammars of various languages with copular particles will be examined and native speakers will be consulted in order to determine the answer to the following questions:

Ø Copular particles may appear with NP predicates only, or be different for AP and NP predicates. Are there other factors to which their presence and appearance is sensitive? In particular, can they be sensitive to the semantics of their environment, as is translative case-marking in Finnish?

Ø What are the syntactic role and lexical or functional category of copular particles? Are they cross-linguistically the same (modulo the lexical category of the predicate)?

Ø Are the “overt predicators” of Bailyn 2002, such as for in They took him for an idiot, to be equated with copular particles?

The outcome of this project is a description of the distribution of copular particles in several unrelated languages and a theoretical proposal governing this distribution.

Goals
The PhD project involves training in research and completion of a PhD dissertation. As part of her/his training, the PhD student will take courses offered by the National Graduate School in Linguistics (LOT).

Qualifications
We are looking for an ambitious student holding an MA degree in formal generative syntax (the Principles and Parameters framework). The candidate must have an MA degree in hand before the project starts. The ideal candidate has some experience with the syntax of Celtic or African (Edo, Chichewa) languages. He/she must have a good command of English and be prepared to collaborate with researchers with widely varying backgrounds.

Conditions
The successful candidate is offered a one-year contract as AiO (Ph.D. student) with the possibility of renewal with three years maximum, after evaluation. The AiO will work on the basis of 1.0 FTE and receive a gross monthly salary of € 1.956,- during the first year. We also offer a pension scheme, a holiday allowance of 8% per year and flexible employment conditions. Conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities.

UIL-OTS features a stimulating, innovative, and internationally oriented research environment which offers opportunities for a broad professional development. Courses are offered by internationally renowned experts, while possibilities for conference visiting are plentiful. We offer excellent experimental facilities and computational support.

Information
For further information, please contact the project supervisor at the UiL OTS, dr. Ora Matushansky, telephone +31-30-253-1729, e-mail Ora.Matushansky at let.uu.nl, or the UiL-OTS PhD coordinator dr. Maaike Schoorlemmer, telephone +31-30-2536183, e-mail Maaike.Schoorlemmer at let.uu.nl. You may also consult our institute’s website: http://www-uilots.let.uu.nl/. The full description of the project is available at: http://www.let.uu.nl/~Ora.Matushansky/personal/Downloads/VIDI.pdf

How to apply?

Applications should include

A letter of motivation;
A curriculum vitae including contact and personal details;
Transcripts of academic results;
An MA thesis or (if the thesis is not available yet) some alternative piece of written work;
The contact details of two referees (names, affiliations and phone numbers or e-mail addresses);
Preferably: two reference letters.

Written applications should be sent simultaneously to the PhD coordinator Dr. M. Schoorlemmer, Janskerkhof 13, 3512 BL, Utrecht, The Netherlands, (maaike.schoorlemmer at let.uu.nl) and to the project supervisor at the UiL OTS, dr. Ora Matushansky, telephone +31-30-253-1729, e-mail Ora.Matushansky at let.uu.nl

Scholarship Tags: Institute, Linguistics, Netherlands, PhD, Position, Utrecht