Job announcement

[P J KAHREL]

JOB ADVERTISEMENT

THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ARTS
RESEARCH CENTRE FOR LINGUISTIC TYPOLOGY

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE/SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
(LEVEL A/LEVEL B/NON-CONTINUING)
IN LINGUISTIC TYPOLOGY


One or two 12-month positions are available for scholars with a sound
background in descriptive linguistics and experience in linguistic
typology, to work with Professor R.M.W. Dixon and Professor Alexandra
Aikhenvald on their research project 'The categories of human
languages'.

Applicants should have a PhD in linguistics, or be close to the award
of a PhD. They should ideally have produced a description of a
language, preferably (a) a language for which there had previously been
no good description; and (b) a language other than that of which they
are native speaker. They should also have some experience in, or
training in, grammatical typology.

The project aims to study the main grammatical categories found in
human languages and provide a characterisation of the parameters of
variation concerning their realisation, function and meaning. It will
also enquire why certain languages have certain categories, organised
in the way they are, looking at interrelations between category types
and for interrelations between grammatical categories and
extralinguistic factors such as ecological environment, socio-political
organisation, economic basis, and life style.

The successful applicants will work as members of a team. The work will
involve (1) summarising the grammatical structures of a sample of world
languages in a standard format (in terms of the established framework
of Basic Linguistic Theory); and (2) comparing grammatical categories
across languages, formulating and checking inductive hypotheses
concerning linguistic universals.

The positions are for 12 months only, commencing on 1st January 1999
(or as soon as possible thereafter) until 3lst December 1999.

Salary will be within the range $42,201 - $45,159 (Research
Associate/Level A) or $47,435 - $55,966 (Senior Research
Associate/Level B). (These are in Australian Dollars). An allowance
will be made to cover travelling expenses to and from Australia at the
beginning and end of the period of employment.

Enquiries about the positions should be addressed at Jennifer Elliott,
Administrator of the Research Centre for Linguistic Typology. Phone
(61/02) 6249 0012, fax (61/02) 6249 0332, e-mail
Jennifer.Elliott at anu.edu.au

Closing date: 30 September 1998		Ref:  FA20.8.1

Applications: addressing the selection criteria should be submitted in
duplicate to the Secretary, The Australian National University,
Canberra ACT 0200 AUSTRALIA, quoting reference number and including
curriculum vitae, list of publications, names, addresses and fax
numbers of at least three referees. A copy of the application should
also be sent to The Director, Research Centre for Linguistics Typology,
The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200 AUSTRALIA.

The University has a "no-smoking" policy in all University buildings and
vehicles.

THE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ARTS

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE/SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
(LEVEL A/LEVEL B/NON-CONTINUING)
IN LINGUISTIC TYPOLOGY

Selection Criteria:

1. Thorough professional training in linguistics, with special
reference to language description and linguistic typology.

2. Applicants should either already have a PhD or be in the final
stages of a Doctoral Program, with their dissertation dealing with a
topic in descriptive linguistics in terms of Basic Linguistic Theory
(not in terms of any non-basic formalism).

3. Ability to work, under direction, as a member of a research team.

4. Ability to work to a timetable, and produce results on time.

5. Ideally, to have produced a description of a language, preferably
(a) a language for which there had previously been no good description;
and (b) a language other than that of which they are native speaker.

6. Some training in anthropology.

7. Awareness of EEO principles.



Prof. Alexandra Aikhenvald
Convenor of the Graduate Program in  Linguistics
Research Centre for Linguistic Typology ANU
Canberra  ACT Australia 0200

fax: 61-(0)6-2490332
phone: 61-(6)-2492256 (w) 2497927 (h)