30.4656, Jobs: Pragmatics; Semantics: Post Doc, Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics (ZAS)

LINGUIST List: Vol-30-4656. Mon Dec 09 2019. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 30.4656, Jobs:  Pragmatics; Semantics: Post Doc, Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics (ZAS)

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Date: Mon, 09 Dec 2019 12:46:14
From: Stephanie Solt [[email protected]]
Subject: Pragmatics; Semantics: Post Doc, Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics (ZAS), Berlin, Germany

 
University or Organization: Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics (ZAS) 
Job Location: Berlin, Germany 
Web Address: https://www.leibniz-bildung.de/en/?id=26&lang=en
Job Title: Researcher
Job Rank: Post Doc

Specialty Areas: Pragmatics; Semantics 


Description:

The Leibniz-Centre General Linguistics (ZAS) invites applications for a
full-time postdoctoral researcher in semantics/pragmatics, with experience in
probabilistic or game-theoretic pragmatics. The position is part of the
project ‘Modeling Meaning-Driven Register Variation’, led by Uli Sauerland and
Stephanie Solt, within the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center SFB1412
‘Register: Language Users’ Knowledge of Situational-Functional Variation’.

The starting date is February 2020 or as soon as possible thereafter (no later
than September 2020).

The initial appointment will be at least until December 2021, with the
possibility of extension until December 2023. The position is remunerated
according to E13 of the German TVöD pay-scale.  

The project ‘Modeling Meaning-Driven Register Variation’ investigates how
speakers’ choice between linguistic alternatives varies according to the
situation or functional setting. A speaker might for example be in the
position to truthfully utter either "7:53" or "around 8 o’clock". The choice
between the two depends not only on their semantic content but also on the
utterance context: the relationship between the interlocutors, the purpose of
the discourse, the perceived information needs of the hearer, and the image or
persona that the speaker wishes to convey. The project seeks to understand and
develop explicit formal models of how speakers make such choices and how they
are interpreted by hearers, building on recent work that integrates logical
and social aspects of meaning. It furthermore aims to uncover what
regularities underlie cases of meaning-driven register variation more
generally. 

The role of the postdoctoral researcher will be to conduct empirical research
into the pragmatics of expression choice in the domains of numerical and
scalar meaning, and to formally model the findings using the tools of
game-theoretic pragmatics.  

Applicants must have defended their PhD by the time of appointment.  The ideal
candidate will have:
- Strong background in theoretical linguistics (specifically semantics and
pragmatics). 
- Prior experience in applying game theoretic methods to semantic/pragmatic
phenomena (ideally employing probabilistic Bayesian approaches).
- Experience with empirical research (experimental, corpus-based) into
linguistic meaning. 

Prior research on topics relating to scalar and numerical meaning and/or
social meaning is advantageous but not required.

The ZAS is a leading international center for research in semantics and
pragmatics, with an active program of workshops and colloquia, facilities for
experimental research, and ample opportunities for collaboration.

The CRC ‘Register’, which the present project is a part of, encompasses 15
sub-projects at the ZAS and the Humboldt-University of Berlin, jointly
investigating intra-speaker variation driven by situational and functional
factors at all levels of language, and focusing on the language user’s
register knowledge and its relation to other types of linguistic knowledge. 

Applications must be submitted via e-mail and include the following items,
preferably in a single PDF: 
- A letter of intent stating the nature of your interest in the project and
the expertise that you could contribute, as well as your desired starting
date; 
- A CV including a complete list of publications; 
- Electronic copies of up to three representative publications or thesis
chapters; and 
- The names and e-mail addresses of at least two scholars to be contacted for
letters of recommendation. 

ZAS is an equal opportunity employer.



Application Deadline: 06-Jan-2020 (Open until filled)
	  
Email Address for Applications: [email protected] 
Contact Information:
	Dr. Stephanie Solt 
	Email: [email protected] 


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