The Austrian Library at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, together with the City of Poznań, invites you to an open lecture: "Sprachvielfalt, Sprachvariation, Sprachkontakt. Perspektiven aus und auf Österreich", to be delivered by Prof. Alexandra N. Lenz.
The lecture will take place on 12 May 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Collegium Novum, Room C3, Al. Niepodległości 4, 61-713 Poznań. The lecture will be held in German.
Alexandra Nicole Lenz is a Professor at the University of Vienna and a full member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. She is an expert in German linguistics and digital humanities. Since 2020, she has served as Director of the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage (ACDH-CH) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Prof. Alexandra N. Lenz began her academic career at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, where she studied German philology, mathematics, and Romance studies. In 2002, she obtained her PhD in German linguistics at the University of Marburg, where she worked as an assistant professor from 2005 to 2008. Since 2010, she has held a professorship in German linguistics at the University of Vienna. In January 2016, she became the spokesperson for the Special Research Area (SFB) "German in Austria (DiÖ): Variation - Contact - Perception". Since April 2016, she has also led the research institute "Variation and Change of German in Austria" within the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage (Austrian Academy of Sciences). Since 2019, she has been a full member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
As a leading expert in her field, Prof. Lenz conducts extensive research into the German language, including its syntax, semantics, historical development, and language variation across German-speaking countries. She heads several major research projects, including "Varieties and Evolution of German in Austria." She is the author of four monographs, 20 edited volumes, approximately 80 articles, four linguistic atlases, and serves as co-editor of four academic series.
Prof. Lenz's work has had a significant impact on contemporary research into language and culture. Her contributions have given new momentum to German linguistic studies in Austria, particularly in exploring linguistic identity and its perception across different social groups. She is a regular speaker at international conferences and a valued member of numerous academic bodies, including the Advisory Board of NFDI4Culture and the Centre for Digital Lexicography of the German Language (since 2019). In her role as Director of the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities and Cultural Heritage, she is also actively involved in the development of digital tools and methods for cultural heritage research.