Linguistic research at the University of Cologne
Welcome to CRC 1252 "Prominence in Language"
In this Collaborative Research Centre (CRC 1252) more than sixty researchers are working together in an interdisciplinary team with the goal of providing a comprehensive characterization of prominence in language.
We investigate how prominence structures language with respect to prosody (Area A), morphosyntax and semantics (Area B) as well as text and discourse structure (Area C) in a large variety of languages from more than a dozen major language families and linguistic areas world wide. Our research on prominence contributes to a better understanding of language as a system between communication and cognition.
News
Multiple student assistant vacancies within the CRC.
We’re looking for two student assistants (SHKs) in project Z to support the coordination of the CRC 1252. The application deadline is October 22. We are also looking for a student assistant within Project C03, for which the deadline is on October 23. Find information about both vacancies by clicking here.
Call for Prominence Fellowships 2027
The CRC 1252 „Prominence in Language“ invites applications for Senior (1-3 months) and Junior (3-6 months) Fellowships. The application deadline is November 15th, 2026. The call and further information on the application process can be found here.
Call for Journalist-in-Residence Fellowships 2027
The CRC 1252 "Prominence in Language" invites applications for a paid guest stay as "Jounalist-in-Residence". The application deadline is November 15th, 2026. The call and further information on the application process can be found here.
Publication of a new textbook
A new textbook titled “Experimental Methods” by Petra B. Schumacher and Doris Mücke has been published. The book presents the most important methods of data collection in the field of linguistics. It explains the principles of experimental design and the conduct of quantitative experimental studies, and discusses them using linguistic examples. For more information, click here.
"The Documentarist Turn"
On February 5, 2026, the Department of General Linguistics at the Institute of Linguistics hosted a formal retirement celebration for Prof. Dr. Nikolaus P. Himmelmann. Colleagues and staff, current and former students, as well as longtime associates attended the event in Cologne. The commemorative publication "The Documentarist Turn" includes several contributions from CRC 1252 members and is a tribute to Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Himmelmann for his role and work in linguistics and can be found on the Publications page of the CRC.
The CRC has a new project: A08!
We are very excited to share the news that Simon Roessig's supplementary proposal for a project within the CRC has been approved by the DFG. The new project A08 investigates “The Role of Pauses in Prominence Marking” and brings together multiple perspectives by exploring both speech production on the basis of corpora and TED talks and perception studies. It further includes a cross-linguistic component by comparing German (as a head-prominent language) and French (edge-prominent).
Go to News Archive
Event calender
09Oct
C02 Workshop: "Tense-aspect and expressivity in French and French-based Creoles"
14.00 - 18.00 | Room 2.316, Philosophikum, UoC
13Oct
a.r.t.e.s. Class 8
10.00 - 11.30 | Spitzboden, HoP, Luxemburger Str. 299
30Sep
RDM: "Data Management Plans in practice"
Lukas Lammers | 14.00 - 15.30 | Spitzboden, HoP