Summary
Between 2013 and 2024, the URPP Language and Space focused on research at the intersection of linguistics and geography. This interdisciplinary research initiative aimed to explore the relationship between language and geographic, social, and interactional spaces, significantly advancing the fields of linguistic geography, typology, and contact linguistics. It combined the micro-level view on human linguistic and non-linguistic interaction with the spatial organisation that emerges out of interaction, including the shaping of geographical language and dialect areas.
Research was organized along three main research strands — Language in Space, Space in Language, and Space through Language — and five research groups — Areal Morphology, Systems of Nominal Determination in Contact, Accommodation and Social Categorization, Interactional Spaces, and Spatial References.
The key achievements were significant advances in theory and empirical research as well as the establishment of the Language and Space Lab consisting of different groups (Text Group, Video Group, and Spatial Data Science Group), which laid the foundation for the Linguistic Research Infrastructure (LiRI) at UZH. This platform became a strategic technology platform at UZH, integrating state-of-the-art research facilities.
The research excellence of the URPP becomes manifest in a great number of publications, including 335 peer-reviewed journal papers, 30 monographs, 63 edited works, and 12 special issues along with numerous book sections and conference papers. These overall 951 publication items are enhancing our understanding of linguistic spaces in a vast sense, including language regions as well as interactional spaces. Pioneering research projects, ranging from detailed projects on linguistic areas such as Neo-Aramaic dialects, morphosyntactic features of Romance languages, or Swiss dialect areas up to global views on morphology areas or the mapping of languages in the Glottography project all demonstrated innovative approaches to language variation, change, and spatial distribution. Moreover, the URPP helped to develop comprehensive MA and PhD programs in Linguistics, incorporating interdisciplinary modules on data science and thus fostering the next generation of linguistics scholars.
The URPP supported many research works, including 21 PhD candidates and 10 postdocs with substantial projects, resulting in increased career opportunities in academia and beyond. On top of these directly funded PhD students and postdocs, numerous early-career researchers were supported through various third-party projects linked to the URPP, with a combined value of CHF 52 Mio in grant income. Partnerships across disciplines were fostered, notably between linguistics and geography, resulting in major collaborative publications and conferences.
The URPP emphasized inclusivity, with a majority of female researchers and provided flexible working conditions supporting work-life balance.
The URPP has set a precedent for linguistic and geographical research integration, with future efforts focusing on expanding international collaborations, ongoing outreach projects, and further educational initiatives. The establishment of a dedicated chair position on “Language and Space in Romance” will ensure continuity and further exploration in this evolving field.
The URPP’s research has not only advanced theoretical frameworks but also provided concrete resources for research and teaching, as well as valuable insights applicable to societal issues such as language education policies, digital transformation impacts, and public engagement through outreach programs. These efforts have contributed to position the UZH as a leader in the field of linguistics and geography, both regionally and globally.