Elizabeth Couper-Kuhlen (born 1943) is an American

linguist Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...

and

distinguished professor Distinguished Professor is an academic title given to some top tenured professors in a university, school, or department. Some distinguished professors may have endowed chairs. In the United States Often specific to one institution, titles such ...

(emeritus) from the

University of Helsinki The University of Helsinki ( fi, Helsingin yliopisto, sv, Helsingfors universitet, abbreviated UH) is a public research university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but founded in the city of Turku (in Swedish ''Åbo'') in 1640 as the ...

. Couper-Kuhlen is regarded as an important figure in the development of

interactional linguistics Interactional linguistics (IL) is an interdisciplinary approach to grammar and interaction in the field of linguistics, that applies the methodology of Conversation Analysis to the study of linguistic structures, including syntax, phonetics, phonol ...

and the study of prosody in

conversation Conversation is interactive communication between two or more people. The development of conversational skills and etiquette is an important part of socialization. The development of conversational skills in a new language is a frequent focus ...

, through a number of books co-edited with

Margret Selting Margret may refer to - *1410 Margret, an asteroid *, a Norwegian steamship in service 1994-06/18 *Margret Holmes Bates (1844-1927), American author *Margret Grebowicz, Polish philosopher, author, and professor *Ann-Margret, Swedish-American actress, ...

: the 1996 book ''Prosody in Conversation'', the 2001 book ''Studies in Interactional Linguistics'' also co-edited with Selting, and the textbook ''Interactional Linguistics''. Her book ''Building Responsive Action'' written together with

Barbara Fox Barbara may refer to: People * Barbara (given name) * Barbara (painter) (1915–2002), pseudonym of Olga Biglieri, Italian futurist painter * Barbara (singer) (1930–1997), French singer * Barbara Popović (born 2000), also known mononymously a ...

and Sandra Thompson received the best book award from the International Society for

Conversation Analysis Conversation analysis (CA) is an approach to the study of social interaction, embracing both verbal and non-verbal conduct, in situations of everyday life. CA originated as a sociological method, but has since spread to other fields. CA began with ...

in 2018. Couper-Kuhlen is member of the editorial board of ''Research on Language and Social Interaction'' and has received a

honorary doctorate An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hon ...

from the University of Helsinki. For her 65th birthday, a conference and following book publication was dedicated to her.

Biography

Elizabeth Couper-Kuhlen received a doctoral degree in 1977 on the basis of her thesis ''The Prepositional Passive in English'', published in 1979, and had been and was then a lecturer in different places in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. In 1991, she did her

habilitation Habilitation is the highest university degree, or the procedure by which it is achieved, in many European countries. The candidate fulfills a university's set criteria of excellence in research, teaching and further education, usually including a ...

with the thesis ''English Speech Rhythm'', published in 1993, and became professor of

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

linguistics at the

University of Konstanz The University of Konstanz (german: Universität Konstanz) is a university in the city of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Its main campus was opened on the Gießberg in 1972 after being founded in 1966. The university is Germany's ...

in 1995. In 2003, she moved to the

University of Potsdam The University of Potsdam is a public university in Potsdam, capital of the state of Brandenburg, Germany. It is mainly situated across three campuses in the city. Some faculty buildings are part of the New Palace of Sanssouci which is known ...

for another professorship, until she became Finland Distinguished Professor at the

in 2009 and director for the Center of Excellence for Research on Intersubjectivity in Interaction in 2013. She is now retired.

Selected publications

* * * * * * * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Couper-Kuhlen, Elizabeth Living people 1943 births Linguists of English Phoneticians Linguists from the United States Women linguists Academic staff of the University of Helsinki