Kristine Bentzen
Job description
I'm a professor of Nordic linguistics.
My research interests include comparative linguistics, syntax, pragmatics and information structure, Nordic dialects, child language, first and second language acquisition, bilingualism, language revitalization, Norwegian, Norwegian dialects, Nordic languages, Sami languages, and English.
I primarily teach and supervise students in the Nordic department, but I also teach/supervise students in the English department and the Sami department, as well as Speech therapy.
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Research interests
Research interests:
My research interests are broad, and include comparative linguistics, syntax, pragmatics and information structure, dialects syntax, child language, first and second language acquisition, bilingualism, language revitalization, and language disorders. I primarily work with the following languages: Norwegian (and Norwegian/Nordic dialects), Northern Sami, and English.
I have a background in theoretical syntax, in particular on the interface between syntax and information structure. For my PhD (2007) I investigated word order variation in embedded clauses in Northern Norwegian, and also compared this with other Scandinavian varieties. My thesis also included a chapter on the acquisition of word order in Northern Norwegian embedded clauses.
Since my PhD I have continued working on theoretical syntax and information structure, and on language acquisition.
I have also picked up again the topic from my Master’s thesis (2000), namely bilingual language acquisition and cross-linguistic influence.
Another research interest that has emerged over the years related to first language acquisition of Northern Sami. From 2011-2017 I was the leader of the project DASAGO (Davvisámigiel mánáid giellaovdáneapmi – North Sami child language acquisition), in which we adapted the MacArthur-Bates CDI (Communicative Development Inventory) into North Sami, collected child language corpora of Sami child language, and investigated various grammatical aspects in Sami child language. We are still working on material collected for this project.
Finally, I have recently decided to approach a topic I have long been fascinated by, namely language disorders. I am currently doing a Master’s degree on speech therapy, and hope to do some research into this area in the near future.
My current research interests include:
- Object shift in Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages, both in adult language and in language acquisition
- OV/VO alternation in (Northern) Sami, both in adult language and in language acquisition
- (First and second language) Acquisition of word order variation and information structure
- Bilingual acquisition (Norwegian/English, Norwegian/North Sami) and cross-linguistic influence
- Acquisition of (North) Sami in a language revitalization perspective
I’m involved in the following external projects:
- External expert consultant on the project The development of Object Shift in North Germanic Child Language, directed by Filippa Lindahl (University West, Sweden)
- SamBa – Growing up in the Arctic. A longitudinal study of early childhood development and health in indigenous and non-indigenous children, directed by Siv Kvernmo (Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT)
Teaching
I teach various linguistic topics related to the MA and BA programmes of Nordic languages and litterature, as well as the teacher training (Lektorutdanninga 8-13), such as grammar, child language acquisition, Norwegian as a second language, multilingualism, linguisitic theory and methodology.
I also teach grammar, phonology/phonetics, language acquisition, multilingualism and topics on Sami languages at the Speech Therapy MA programme at UiT.
