34.783, Support: Semantics; Mayan; Sign Language: PhD, CNRS/University of Arizona

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-34-783. Tue Mar 07 2023. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 34.783, Support: Semantics; Mayan; Sign Language: PhD, CNRS/University of Arizona

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Date: 
From: Jeremy Kuhn [jeremy.kuhn at ens.psl.eu]
Subject: Semantics; Mayan; Sign Language: PhD, CNRS/University of Arizona


Institution/Organization: CNRS
Department: Institut Jean Nicod (CNRS, ENS-PSL, EHESS)
Web Address: http://www.institutnicod.org/?lang=en

Level: PhD

Duties: Research

Specialty Areas: Semantics
Required Language(s): Mayan
                      Sign Language

Description:

The Institut Jean Nicod (CNRS, ENS–PSL, EHESS) in Paris invites
application for a three-year PhD position starting in Fall, 2023. This
full-time research position is funded by the CNRS, in collaboration
with the University of Arizona, on the project entitled "Meaning,
gesture, and sign in Mesoamerica," led by Jeremy Kuhn (CNRS) and
Robert Henderson (Arizona).

The goal of the project is to document and analyze the semantics of
sign languages used by indigenous Mesoamerican communities. Sign
languages elsewhere in the world are known to be rich in
"pluractional" morphemes, used to indicate that a plurality of events
happened. Mesoamerican languages, and Mayan languages in particular,
have been shown to have similarly rich systems of pluractionality and
distributivity. Speakers of Mayan languages also have a robust system
of gestures that co-occur with speech, and which involve different
conventions than more familiar languages. Some of these gestural
conventions have been claimed to exist as well in the sign languages
used by Deaf individuals in the same linguistic area. The present
project will thus describe and analyze patterns of pluractionality and
distributivity in Mesoamerican sign languages, with comparison to
gestural systems used by hearing people in the same communities, and
to European sign languages.

The postholder will work under the joint supervision of Principal
Investigator Jeremy Kuhn (CNRS) and co-PI Carlo Geraci (CNRS), in
close collaboration with Robert Henderson (Arizona). The work will
involve:
 - conducting fieldwork working with indigenous communities in
Guatemala and Mexico;
 - typological comparison to other sign languages (including French
Sign Language), and to Mesoamerican gestural systems;
 - analyzing this data in the context of existing work on
pluractionality and distributivity.

The ideal candidate is expected to have the following qualifications:
 - a Master's degree in linguistics or a related area (obtained by
August 2023);
 - knowledge of a sign language;
 - ability to communicate in Spanish;
 - motivation to conduct linguistic fieldwork in central America.

Deaf applicants are particularly encouraged to apply. Weaknesses in
one area of an applicant's profile may be compensated by strengths in
another area of their profile (e.g. experience doing field work;
training in semantics).

This is a full-time, fully-funded three-year doctoral contract.
Employment should start on September 1, 2023 or as soon as possible
thereafter as mutually agreed. The position remains open until filled.
For full consideration please submit your application by April 15,
2023.

To apply, please send your application as a single PDF file to
signlanguage.ijn.applications at gmail.com including:

 - your CV;

 - a cover letter briefly explaining your motivation and your
experience in relation to the project;

 - the contact information for up to three referees (who may be
contacted at a later stage);

 - one or two writing samples (e.g. Master's thesis).


Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed shortly after the
deadline.

Contact Information:
Dr. Jeremy Kuhn
jeremy.kuhn at ens.psl.eu



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