Participants of the summer school

2022 Sommerschool Cres, Coatia

University of Rijeka, Cres, Croatia – July 4–8, 2022
Participants of the summer school
Foto: Thede Kahl

Description

The CresSSLing Summer School in Linguistic Fieldwork and Documentation, held from July 4th to 8th, 2022, at the picturesque Moise Palace on the island of Cres, Croatia, successfully brought together graduate and advanced undergraduate students from linguistics, philology, and related disciplines for an intensive week of specialized training in linguistic fieldwork and language documentation.

Hosted by the Center for Language Research (CLAR) and the Doctoral Program in the History and Dialectology of the Croatian Language at the University of Rijeka, and realized in collaboration with New York University, the University of Jena, and the University of Georgia, the summer school offered a comprehensive program of five week-long courses, totaling 40 hours of instruction, with morning and afternoon sessions supplemented by evening activities and one-on-one mentoring. Participants gained hands-on experience with both methodological foundations and practical tools essential for contemporary fieldwork and documentation. The program focused on the rich linguistic diversity of Croatia and Southeast Europe, including minority and endangered varieties that are often underrepresented in global research.

Courses

  1. Essentials of Language Documentation – Instructor: Zvjezdana Vrzić (NYU): Students received a thorough introduction to the discipline of language documentation, covering topics from recording techniques and metadata management to project planning, archiving, and ethical considerations. The course emphasized the socio-cultural contexts of speech communities and the potential of documentation to support language revitalization.
  2. Fieldwork in Dialectology (Croatian Regional Dialects) – Instructor: Silvana Vranić (University of Rijeka): This course guided participants through the full process of dialect research, from designing questionnaires to transcription, annotation, and archiving of speech samples. Students engaged directly with speakers, documenting current linguistic practices and contributing to accessible corpora for future research.
  3. Introduction to Praat and ELAN for Field Linguists – Instructor: Keith Langston (University of Georgia): Participants acquired practical skills in two widely used tools for audio and video annotation and analysis. They learned to generate time-aligned transcriptions, manage multiple annotation tiers, and analyze speech recordings for research and documentation purposes.
  4. Practical Aspects of Fieldwork and Community Interaction – Instructor: Thede Kahl (Universities of Jena & Vienna): This course provided insights into the challenges of real-world fieldwork, from adapting research plans to unexpected situations to navigating community engagement. Drawing on extensive experience in Balkan linguistics and ethnology, the course offered strategies for effective, ethical, and culturally sensitive research.
  5. Textological Research with an Emphasis on Historical Syntax – Instructor: Diana Stolac (University of Rijeka): Focused on the analysis of historical Croatian texts, this course combined theoretical introduction and practical exercises, enabling participants to conduct diachronic and synchronic analyses, understand syntactic changes, and develop skills in well-structured textological research.

A Unique Learning Environment

The summer school took place in the newly opened Moise Palace Education Center, a beautifully restored Renaissance palace offering classrooms, a library, and collaborative workspaces. The inspiring setting on the island of Cres provided both an ideal academic environment and a unique cultural experience, enriching the overall learning process.

Video: Thede Kahl

Success and Future Prospects

The inaugural CresSSLing Summer School was realized with great success, achieving high levels of engagement, collaboration, and skill acquisition among participants. Students left with not only a certificate of completion but also practical experience, mentorship guidance, and a stronger foundation for future research in linguistic documentation and fieldwork. The positive feedback and the demonstrated academic enthusiasm suggest that CresSSLing will continue to grow as a leading summer program for linguists. The combination of rigorous training, hands-on practice, and immersive cultural context makes it a model for future summer schools, promising to attract students and researchers from across Europe and beyond. For those interested in linguistic fieldwork, documentation of endangered and minority languages, and practical skills in analysis and annotation, CresSSLing Summer School represents an unparalleled opportunity to combine theory, practice, and cross-cultural experience.