Research in European Languages and Cultures is focused on the nexus between Language and Culture, with a majority of staff members publishing in fields that can be loosely grouped under 'Multicultural, Intercultural and Cross-Cultural Studies'. While some research work in the Department is directed at language, e.g. historical and linguistic description of languages, and literary productions in specific languages and of individual writers, another current area of interest is in the theory and history of European Literature more generally and its evolution in the context of intercultural interactions. An emerging research area is the impact of globalisation and migration processes on cultural productions - such as literature, film and theatre - in the European and Australian context. In addition, research projects situated in the area of Applied Linguistics, such as corpus-based approaches to language teaching and computer-mediated communication in second language acquisition, as well as language teaching methodology more generally contribute to the Department's research profile.

Below you will find a listing of individual staff members and their research interests:

Prof Martina Möllering
BA (Essen), MA (Macq.), PhD(Macq.)
Head, Department of International Studies
Professor, Head of German Studies

Research interests:
Computer-mediated communication in second language acquisition; corpus-based approaches to language teaching; pragmatics in interlanguage; linguistic aspects of identity construction in multi-cultural societies
 

Gianluca Alimeni
BA (W'gong), MA (W'gong)
Associate Lecturer, Italian Studies

Research interests:
The Italian Renaissance; computer-assisted language learning
 

Luka Budak
BSc (Wat.), MA (Wat.)
Senior Lecturer, Head of Croatian Studies

Research interests:
History of Croatian language, 20th century in particular; Croatian language in Australia; history of Croatian settlement in Australia; Croatian cultural history; Croatian emigrant literature and emigrant literature in general; Croatian and Russian literature (19th century and early 20th century)
 

Dr Ulrike Garde
BA (Toulouse), MA (Bonn), PhD (Monash)
Senior Lecturer, German Studies

Research interests:
Cross-cultural approaches to German studies with a focus on the creation of cultural identities; Australian-German cross-cultural relationship; the production and reception of German-language drama in Australia; performativity and theatricality and their application to literary texts; 20th century German-speaking playwrights

Dr Brigitte Jandey
MA (UNSW), PhD (UNSW)
Associate Lecturer, French Studies

Research interests:
French literature (innovative women in French literature); The making of French identity; First year language retention and attrition.
 

Dr Marika Kalyuga
BA (MSU), PhD (MSPU) Senior Lecturer, Head of Russian Studies

Research interests:
Cognitive linguistics, cross-cultural communication, second language acquisition
 

Dr Elizabeth Kefallinos
BA (Syd.), PhD (Syd.), Dip HigherEd (Macq.)
Lecturer, Head of Modern Greek Studies

Research interests:
Greek language history and literature, mainly poetry, poetics and poeticism; intercultural interpretations; modern and traditional concepts of Olympism and heroism
 

A/Prof Bert Peeters
Lic. Rom. Philol. (Leuven), PhD (ANU)
Associate Professor, French Studies

Research interests:
French linguistics; cross-cultural communication; Natural Semantic Metalanguage, with special reference to Romance languages in general and French in particular
 

Andrew Siedlecki
MA, Dip Ed
Polish Studies

Research interests:
Film, theatre, literature, creativity in art, mechanics of acting
 

Dr Karin Speedy
BA (Auck.), MA (Auck.), PhD (Auck.)
Senior Lecturer, French Studies

Research interests:
French-based Creole languages and linguistics, particularly Reunion Creole, Tayo and Louisiana Creole; colonial and post-colonial francophone literature; French and Pacific history; literary translation; cross-cultural issues in French business
 

A/Prof Estela Valverde
Hons (UNSW), PhD (UNSW)
Head of Spanish Studies and Latin American Studies
Director, Higher Degree Research

Research interests:
The exploration of issues related to history, memory and politics; ethnic, gender and national identities; transitional justice, re-democratisation and human rights.