Research interests

• Semantics and grammar, especially in relation to English (and Danish)
• Philosophy of LanguagePragmatics
• The relation between language as a cognitive and a social phenomenon
• Linguistic norms and language policy (including in relation to education)

Takes part in public debates on research and education

Born 1950.

• Studied economics at the University of Copenhagen 1967-1970
• Studied English 1970-1977, interrupted by linguistics ‘sidefag’  1971-74.
• Studies at Edinburgh University 1975-76.
• Cand.mag. (MA) January 1977.
• Teacher education 1977.
• Research position 1977-78 (terminated because of bleak employment prospects).
• Part-time teaching 1978-79.
• Additional ‘sidefag’ in Danish 1979.
• ’Gymnasium’ teacher at Himmelev Gymnasium 1979-85.
• Associate professor at the English Department,  University of Copenhagen 1985-1998.
• Travelling award from ”Einar Hansens Fund” 1990; Einar Hansen’s award for research in the humanities 1999.
• Collaborator in the project 'Danish Functional Grammar' funded by ”Grundforskningsbevillingen” 1992-95.
• Visiting scholar at University of California , San Diego, 1994.
• Leader of ’Network for functional linguistics’ under The National Research Council for the Humanities (=Statens Humanistiske Forskningsråd) 1998-2000.
• Dr.phil. 1996.
• Full professor 1998.
• Elected fellow of the Danish Royal Academy 1999.
• ’Studieleder’ (chief administrator of the English programme) 1999-2002.
• Exchange visitor at Berkeley , autumn 2003.

Office hours: Wednesday 11-12