The linguists of Freie Universität Berlin are happy to announce the launch of the
Dahlem Center for Linguistics
The new center will serve as a hub for linguistic collaboration and as a communicative interface connecting Berlin’s diverse linguistic research with the world.
We cordially invite you to the inaugural symposium of the Dahlem Center for Linguistics, which will take place on June 20, from 4 p.m. onwards in Hörsaal 1a, Rostlaube (Habelschwerdter Allee 45).
As one of the highlights of this event, we will welcome Bert Remijsen to Freie Universität Berlin. He will implement his recent ERC Synergy Project NILOMORPH, which investigates complex meanings expressed by subtle differences in pitch, duration, and voice quality in monosyllabic words in Sudanese languages.
His lecture will be accompanied by three more presentations on African languages by researchers from the Berlin / Brandenburg area:
Mandana Seyfeddinipur, director of the Endangered Languages Documentation Program at Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, will highlight critical gaps in the documentation of African languages.
Malte Zimmermann, semanticist at Universität Potsdam with extensive expertise in West African languages, will share his insights on definiteness in the West African languages Akan and Hausa.
Uli Reich, linguist at Freie Universität Berlin, will explore the expression of information structure in Wolof, the dominant language in Senegal and Gambia.
The symposium will conclude with a poster session showcasing the wide range of current linguistic research projects at Freie Universität Berlin.
After the academic program, please join us for finger food, drinks, and music to celebrate the launch of the Dahlem Center for Linguistics.

Please register here by May 30, 2025.