Academic Interests
In recent years, I have primarily been working on sign language and on those research challenges that sign languages represent with regard to
language as a general human phenomenon. Within this framework, I have been focusing particularly on the following areas:
- Language typology properties of the structure of sign languages, with a focus on Norwegian Sign Language.
- Similarities and differences between bilingualism involving a sign language and a spoken language, and other kinds of bilingualism.
- Consequences of 1 and 2 for the education of individuals with a hearing loss.
- Deafblind people's bodily and tactile communication in the light of 1 and 2.
Teaching
SPPT1020 Grunnleggende tegnspråkteori
SPPT1040 Videregående tegnspråkteori
SPPT2120 Kommunikasjon, språk og profesjonskunnskap I
SPPT3020 Kommunikasjon, språk og profesjonskunnskap II
SPED1002 Spesialpedagogikk: funksjonshemning, normalitet og avvik
SPED4200 Fordypning i logopedi
Higher education and employment history
- Exam.oecon., University of Oslo, 1983
- Cand.mag., Russian and linguistics, University of Oslo, 1985
- Cand.philol., linguistics, University of Oslo, 1988
- Dr.art., linguistics, University of Oslo, 1994
- Employed in the Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, since 1995 (professor since 1997)
- Head of Department, Department of Special Needs Education, 2009-2010
- Affiliated with the Department of Research and Development, Skådalen Resource Centre, Oslo, in different functions, 1994-2007
- Interpreter/Executive Officer, The Norwegian Border Commissioner for the Norwegian-Soviet Border, 1984-1985
- Visiting Fellow/Visiting Scholar, Australian National University, Canberra (1991-1992), Victoria University of Wellington (1992), Fudan University, Shanghai (2006)
- Fieldwork periods in Samoa (1986, 1993), Tokelau (1986), Russia (1992), and at Ål Folk High School and Course Centre for the Deaf (2005-2006)
Honoraria
The Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities, Award for Excellence in Research, 1992-1997, as a member of the Oceania Group led by
Professor Even Hovdhaugen.
Appointments
President, Norwegian Society of Linguistics [Norsk forening for sprogvidenskap], 1995-1996
Deputy Head of Department, Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, 1997-1998
Head of Department, Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, 2009-2010
Cooperation
I have a valuable national and international network of cooperation partners in my areas of interest, in research institutions as well as in
institutions in the practice field and other organizations. My experience includes lecturing in many of these contexts.
