Two Postdoctoral Positions in Project on the Dutch Creole of the Danish West Indies

The Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics within the School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University invites applications for two two-year postdoctoral positions concerning Virgin Islands Creole Dutch. The postdoctoral positions are affiliated with the research project ‘Digital Demography, Creole Creation, Light on Letters: Unravelling the Unique Case of the Genesis and Development of Creole Language of the Danish West Indies’ funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.

The postdoctoral positions are full time and 22 month fixed-term position. The position begins on 1 November 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their personal background.

Project

The project tracks the genesis and development of Creole Dutch from the settlement of Saint Thomas to the final stages of the language, using demographic data, grammatical data and lexical data from the whole period, starting 1672 to the late 20th century. To this end, computational methods are used, such as phylogenetic networks, agent-based modelling and graphematics. The creole language was created after 1672 by the enslaved population of the island of Saint Thomas, now part of the US Virgin Islands.

Postdoctoral positions

The successful applicants will be expected to work on one of the two following subprojects:

• Arrival and adjustment. On the basis of available rich detailed demographic data, the interaction of the languages of the enslaved and enslavers will be studied, and compared with the known result, namely the creole language as spoken on the islands in the 20th century. Agent-based modelling would be an appropriate technique, using agents with different linguistic usage.
• Creole Creation. Uniquely, converted enslaved people in the Danish West Indies were literate. More than 100 letters written by enslaved Africans, as well as a quantity of proverbs and several dialogues involving slaves have been preserved, in the Creole language. The grammatical evolution of these texts of the enslaved and their descendants is studied computationally in conjunction with printed texts produced by German and Danish missionaries in the creole language. Phylogenetic software and lexicographic software would be an appropriate technique to track the evolutionary changes in the language.

The third subproject covers:

• Bibles and Books. Much linguistic material has been produced by pietistic missionaries from Germany and Lutheran missionaries from Denmark. The evolution of grammatical and orthographic norms are studied and compared. This part will map the 25 printed sources in the creole. The competing missionaries will shed a light on the reliability of missionary resources and their parallel development. Phylogenetic software and graphematic techniques would be appropriate techniques.

The three subprojects will thus map the development of the creole through time, from its genesis. The printed and manuscript texts will be available in digitalized forms.Teaching and supervisionThe postdoctoral positions are primarily research-based, but they will also involve a small degree of teaching and supervision. To that end, the successful applicants will be expected to take part in the department’s teaching and supervision activities and to teach and supervise on BA or MA levels in linguistics. See the academic regulations for the BA and MA degree programs.

Given the international focus of the degree programmes, the successful applicant will be expected to teach in English and/or in Danish.QualificationsApplicants must have a PhD degree obtained after 2015 or must document equivalent qualifications in the field of contact linguistics related to creole linguistics and have experience of computational techniques. Applicants must be able to document, relevant to the position:

• An internationally oriented research profile within contact linguistics as documented by a PhD dissertation and research publications
• Experience in the self-directed management of research projects
• Relevant teaching experience at university level as documented by a teaching portfolio (or equivalent documentation of teaching experience and qualifications) commensurate with the length of the applicant’s academic career
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in order to engage productively both within the research team and with external organisations and institutions
• Reading knowledge of German, Danish and/or Dutch

Furthermore, it will be considered an advantage if applicants can document

• A track record of research publications of a high international standard commensurate with the length of the applicant’s academic career
• Appropriate knowledge of the creolistic literature, not limited to creoles with one lexifier
• Experience of participation in national and international research networks
• Time spent working at one or more internationally recognised research institutions outside of Denmark
• Experience of computational techniques within linguistics, such as evolution-tracking software, agent-based modelling and/or lexicographic programs

Finally, applicants are encouraged to request the descriptions of the subprojects and the project description. Please contact Peter Bakker at linpb@cc.au.dk.

Please note that although the application process can be completed on the Aarhus University system without uploading publications, applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum five) will not be considered.

Although the Aarhus University application system includes an option to upload letters of recommendation, please do not include letters of recommendation or references with the application. Applicants who are invited to an interview may be asked to provide references.Work environmentActive participation in the daily life of the department is a high priority, and we emphasise the importance of good working relationships, both among colleagues and with our students. In order to maintain and develop the department’s excellent teaching and research environment, the successful applicant is expected to be present at the department on a daily basis.

We respect the balance between work and private life and strive to create a work environment in which that balance can be maintained. You can read more about family and work-life balance in Denmark.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdoctoral researchers at AU.International applicantsInternational applicants are encouraged to read about the attractive working conditions and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a wide variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and an AU Expat Partner Programme. You can also find information about the taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU.The departmentThe place of employment is the Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics, Jens Chr. Skous Vej 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Prospective applicants are invited to view the department’s website.School of Communication and CultureThe school is a part of the Faculty of Arts. You will find information about the school and its research programmes, departments, and diverse activities on its website.ContactFor further information about the position, please contact the principal investigator (PI), Peter Bakker by email: linpb@cc.au.dk

If you need help uploading your application or have questions about the recruitment process, please contact Arts HR support by email: hsi@au.dk.

Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

The Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).

• Appointments shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities.
• Further information on the application and supplementary materials may be found in Application Guidelines.
• The application must outline the applicant's motivation for applying for the position, attaching a curriculum vitae, a teaching portfolio, a complete list of published works, copies of degree certificates and examples of academic production (mandatory, but no more than five examples). Please upload this material electronically along with your application.

Aarhus University also offers a junior researcher development programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here: https://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/

If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. The application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.

The faculty contributes to Aarhus University's research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.

With its 550 academic staff members, 240 PhD students, 9,500 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.

The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.

The faculty's academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.

Read more at arts.au.dk/en

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/

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