Research Profile
The Plurilingualism Research Unit is an applied research center that explores individual and societal linguistic plurality. Its focus lies on languages that can be considered – from a synchronic as well as a diachronic perspective – marginalized and/or endangered. Our main research areas are Romani and the minority literatures of Southeastern Europe. Other projects explore multilingualism and minority languages in diverse contexts, such as language use of migrant deaf signers as well as the linguistic plurality in Southern African contexts and their diasporas.
Romani research and teaching have a long history at the University of Graz. Continuous networking and active exchange with other centers dealing with Romani have been strengthening the scientific basis of Romani research as a whole.
In the past years, research on the literatures of minorities with a special focus on Southeastern Europe has additionally been established. Based on the work of the Centre for Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz, the explicit focus on the literatures of minorities of Southeastern Europe is a unique feature at the University and an important addition to research on Southeastern Europe.
The research team brings together different but thematically connected research areas. This multi- and interdisciplinarity and cooperation leads to the participatory development of new methods and approaches that facilitate active and dynamic access of marginalized languages and cultures to new technologies.
Important components of our research are:
Interdisciplinarity & Innovation: development and implementation of new research projects with an interdisciplinary approach and innovative methods.
Profile-building: strengthening the profile of the research unit by involving students and researchers from the University of Graz and other educational institutions.
Visibility: presentations and workshops at the University of Graz as well as for the general public to make the outcomes of our research more visible.
Networking: collaborations with other universities, in particular in Central and Southeastern Europe, as well as with other research institutions at the University of Graz.