Research Professorship

Local experts and those from abroad are invited to stay at IFM in Germany for several weeks to do research with the staff at the institute. The goal is to develop innovative research methods, and to present and discuss their latest scientific results in public lectures and seminars. The first Michael Clyne Research Professor was Prof. Kees de Bot from the University of Groningen and University of Pannonia.

Michael G. Clyne

The Australian linguist Michael G. Clyne (1939-2010) is considered one of the founders of modern language contact and multilingualism research. In numerous internationally renowned publications, Clyne further developed multilingualism research in many directions (including in the areas of language contact, sociolinguistics, intercultural pragmatics, and language policy) and has inspired a large number of researchers who continue to carry on his legacy today. The multi award-winning linguist and Germanist (including an honorary doctorate from the LMU, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Austrian Decoration of Honor for Science and Art and the Humboldt Research Award) not only left behind a scientific oeuvre of remarkable breadth, but he also understood the scientific findings like no other to make it fruitful for society. He successfully promoted the development and establishment of multilingual school programs in Australia and was deeply committed to multilingual education.