What's Happening?
Professor Ioanna Sitaridou, a specialist in language change, language contact, endangered languages, and comparative Romance and Greek linguistics, has joined the University of Chicago's Department of Linguistics as a Visiting Professor for Fall 2026.
She is also a Professor of Spanish and Historical Linguistics and Co-Director of the Cambridge Centre for Greek Studies at the University of Cambridge. Professor Sitaridou's research integrates linguistic theory, historical evidence, and extensive fieldwork in multilingual communities. Her notable work includes eighteen years of fieldwork on Romeyka, an endangered Greek variety spoken in Turkey, which has brought this previously little-known language to international scholarly and public attention. She has also expanded her research to Sri Lankan Afro-Portuguese, another critically endangered language. During her tenure at the University of Chicago, she will co-teach two interdisciplinary courses: 'The Life and Death of a Language: Endangered Anatolian Greek' and 'The Last Romans: Greek Language and Roman Identity in Asia Minor'.
Why It's Important?
Professor Sitaridou's appointment at the University of Chicago is significant for the field of linguistics and the broader academic community in the U.S. Her expertise in endangered languages and language contact offers a unique opportunity for American students and researchers to engage with critical issues in linguistic diversity and preservation. The study of languages like Romeyka and Sri Lankan Afro-Portuguese provides valuable insights into how languages evolve, survive, or disappear, which can inform global efforts to protect linguistic heritage. Her interdisciplinary approach, combining syntax, semantics, historical linguistics, and language contact, enriches the academic discourse and offers new perspectives on the relationship between language, history, and identity. This engagement with international linguistic challenges can also foster greater understanding and collaboration between U.S. institutions and global research efforts in the humanities.
What's Next?
During Fall 2026, Chicago students will have the opportunity to study with Professor Sitaridou in two interdisciplinary courses. The first, 'LING 24016/34016 — The Life and Death of a Language: Endangered Anatolian Greek,' co-taught with Professor Anastasia Giannakidou, will explore the interaction and change of modality, negation, and polarity across the history of Greek, from earlier stages to present-day Romeyka. The second course, 'CLCV 24826 / CLAS 34826 — The Last Romans: Greek Language and Roman Identity in Asia Minor,' co-taught with Professor Anthony Kaldellis, will examine the interplay of language, history, and identity by tracing Greek across 1,500 years in Asia Minor. These courses are designed to appeal to students interested in theoretical linguistics, Classics, history, anthropology, and Greek studies, offering a window into broader questions about language change and survival.
Beyond the Headlines
Professor Sitaridou's work extends beyond academic research by highlighting the ethical and cultural dimensions of language preservation. Her focus on endangered languages underscores the importance of documenting and revitalizing linguistic varieties that are at risk of extinction. The loss of a language represents not only the disappearance of a communication system but also the erosion of unique cultural knowledge, historical narratives, and distinct ways of understanding the world. By bringing Romeyka and Sri Lankan Afro-Portuguese to international attention, she emphasizes how endangered languages can transform our understanding of language change, contact, and the reconstruction of the past. This work contributes to a global dialogue about linguistic human rights and the value of linguistic diversity in an increasingly globalized world, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the intricate connections between language, identity, and cultural heritage.
