Postdoctoral researchers in Greek Philology and linguistics (24228) - Linguistics

Ghent University, Belgium

Updated: almost 2 years ago
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 06 Aug 2022

   →  Apply before 06/08/2022 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
   →  Faculty of Arts and Philosophy  
   →  Department: LW06 - Taalkunde
   →  Occupancy rate: 100%
   →  Number of positions: 4    
   →  Type of employment: Contract of unlimited duration with clause 
   →  Term of assignment: 1 Year 
   →  Wage scale:  PD1 to PD4 (doctoral degree) 
   →  Required diploma: PhD 

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 8,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

The Department of Linguistics at Ghent University (Belgium) is seeking well-qualified applicants for fully-funded and full-time post-doctoral research positions linked to the European Research Council Consolidator Grant project MELA. The meaning of language. A digital grammar of the Greek taught at schools in Late Constantinople (https://research.flw.ugent.be/nl/projects/mela-meaning-language-digital-grammar-greek-taught-schools-late-constantinople ). Prof. Dr. Andrea Cuomo, with his interest in the history of Medieval Greek and the reception of classical literature in Byzantium, is the principal investigator.

Area of research of MELA         

MELA primarily aims to create the first digital grammar of the Greek taught at schools in late Byzantium on the basis of textbooks for the teaching of Greek and their manuscript copies composed by (or within the networks of pupils, scribes, etc. of) scholars ranging from Planoudes (†1305) to Gregoras (†c. 1360).

            You will contribute to understanding what the Byzantines of the time considered to be ‘Attic’ Greek, and which rules they followed when writing in high-register Medieval Greek.

YOUR TASKS

  • At least 70% of your assignment will be spent on academic research.
  • We expect you
    • to successfully conduct independent research on one of the 3 areas of interest to MELA (see below) within the funding period;
    • and to contribute to MELA’s digital grammar, by sharing relevant data, the outcome of your research on textbooks or on a corpus of high-/ low-register texts.
  • We expect you to be an enthusiastic researcher, interested in promoting your research outcome in various venues, from informal MELA team meetings to international conferences.

Three are the possible research area

Research area 1

In the first possible research area, we address the following questions and tasks:

     Which grammar of 'Attic' Greek emerges from late Byzantine textbooks?

     What kind of Greek would one learn, if (s)he attended Byzantine schools?

     Validate the didactic efficacy of Byzantine textbooks.

You will work on one or more grammatical themes (e.g. modality; subordination; parts of speech) while focusing on one or more of the following textbooks:

  • Manuel Moschopoulos’ Ἐρωτήματα.
  • Manuel Moschopoulos’ Περὶ σχεδῶν.
  • Manuel Moschopoulos’ Περὶ ὀνομάτων καὶ ῥημάτων συντάξεως.
  • Manuel Moschopoulos’ Various grammatical treatises (e.g. Περὶ προσῳδιῶν etc.).
  • Georgios Lakapenos’ Ἐπιμερισμοί.
  • Ioannes Glykys’ Περὶ ὀρθότητος τῆς συντάξεως.
  • Maximos Planudes’ Ἀττικισμοὶ τῶν λογίων.
  • Maximos Planudes’ Περὶ γραμματικῆς διάλογος.
  • Maximos Planudes’ Περὶ συντάξεως β’.
  • Maximos Planοudes’ Περὶ τῆς τῶν ῥημάτων συντάξεως.
  • Nikephoros Gregoras’ Τεχνολογία Γραμματικῆς.
  • Late Byzantine Scholia on the Greek Classics; Paraphrases.
  • Maximos Planoudes’ Lexicon and Epimerisms.
  • Manuel Moschopoulos’ Lexicon.
  • Thomas Magistros’ Lexicon.
  • Lexicon Hermanni.
  • Lexicon Vindobonense.

    • ​​​ 

    Research area 2 and 3

    The second and third possible areas of research aim to verify whether Byzantine grammatical descriptions tend to be (over)reliant on traditions and blind to contemporary factors (e.g. contacts with other varieties of Greek, or other languages), assess the influence of the vernacular/demotic on high-register Greek, and see discrepancies between what the Byzantines learned at school, and how they then actually wrote.

    Similarly, they will see whether and how communities of practice (e.g. the circle around Planoudes and other authors of textbooks) mediated between the theoretical norms (i.e. those contained in textbooks) and applied norms (i.e. the norms employed in their writings, such as letters).

    In order to address the above mentioned questions, you will work on a set of texts

    in high-register

    or

    low register Greek

    written in the Palaeologan era.

            You will be free to choose the genre and author you prefer (e.g. Epistolography [e.g. Planoudes, Gregoras, Kydones, Kalekas]; Historiography [Akropolites; Pachymeres; Gregoras; Kantakouzenos; Kritoboulos; Sphrantzes]; chronicles; typikà; logoi basilikoi).

    WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

  • You hold a thesis-based doctorate in classics/ Greek linguistics/ classical philology/ Byzantine studies/ Linguistics (obtained max. 6 years ago. This term of 6 years is determined by the date written on the above-mentioned required diploma).
  • Alternatively, you will hold a thesis-based doctorate in the above-mentioned fields by June 2023.
  • outstanding knowledge of Ancient and/or Medieval Greek;
  • a demonstrable interest in Byzantine studies and (at least basic) training in the digital humanities;
  • strong knowledge of the literary and cultural history of post-classical Greek as evidenced by their study trajectory (optional courses, subject of papers and dissertations, letters of recommendation , etc.);
  • excellent command of English and of at least one  of the following languages: Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, or Russian.

    • We expect that the successful applicant will:

  • successfully conduct independent research on one of the 3 areas of study relevant to MELA within the funding period;
  • contribute to building MELA’s digital grammar;
  • contribute to the strong research tradition of the department and the university in Ghent by pursuing excellence in his/her research and by publishing his/her results in journals and with publishers that are internationally accepted as being of the highest quality;
  • reside in Belgium, work together with the other members of the team and of MELA’s international advisory board, and contribute to a pleasant and stimulating atmosphere;
  • contribute to the scholarly activities of the research group (e.g. by organizing events in collaboration with the principal investigator and/or other members of the team, etc.).

    • WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

    • We offer you a contract of indefinite duration with a maximum term of 1 year. At the end of the first year, based on positive evaluation, the contract can be extended up to a maximum of 3 further years.
    • Your contract will start on 1/10/2022 at the earliest, and on 1/06/2023 at the latest.
    • Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale PD1. Click here for more information about our salary scales .
    • All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers.. Click here for a complete overview of all the staffbenefits (in Dutch).

    INTERESTED?

    Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.

    Your application must include the following documents:

  • In the field ‘CV’: your CV max. 2 pages.
  • In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter (max. 3 pages) and a brief description of your prospected research (max. 7 pages). Both documents will be merged into a single pdf file. This is the most important document.

    • In the application letter (max 3 pages), please clearly state:

    • To which of the 3 prospected research areas you would like to contribute
    • Why and how you will make a major contribution to MELA
    • What you expect from this research opportunity
    • Your mid-term academic plans.

    In the description of your prospected research (max 7 pages):

    • Briefly outline a suitable research plan according to the chosen research area (see above). Consider time at your disposal (1 + 3 years).
    • Demonstrate clear research questions, and knowledge of the texts at the core of MELA, or on which you want to work (see above).
  • In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
    • In the case you have not defended the PhD thesis yet, upload a statement of your supervisor, attesting that you will be able to hold the required degree by June 2023 at the latest.
  • In the field ‘Other Documents’: a copy of your concluded Doctoral Dissertation. If you have not yet defended it, you can upload its drafted version, or other relevant publications.

    • Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.

    2 letters of recommendation (one of which written either by the supervisor in the PhD program or by a researcher/ head of the institution, where the applicant is currently working)must be sent directly  to Prof. Andrea Cuomo at: [email protected]  by July 8, 2022 .

    We advise you to inform your referees with due notice, as reference letters are very important in the selection process.

    As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.


    MORE INFORMATION

    Shortlisted candidates will be notified on August 20, 2022 at the latest.

    Interviews will take place between the end of August and the beginning of September 2022.

    For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Andrea Cuomo at: [email protected]

    Universiteit Gent

    Faculty of Arts and Philosophy

    Department of Linguistics

    Blandijnberg 2 9000 Gent

    Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online.

    Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read our FAQ .


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