About research at the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies
Our research covers a wide range of areas, from language and literature to aesthetic and digital forms of expression. Much of it is interdisciplinary, connecting humanistic perspectives with technology, society and culture.
The significance of our research
Language, narratives and images shape how we understand the world. Our research demonstrates how communication, culture and technology influence society and individuals. It provides insights that are applied in schools, cultural institutions, public debate and the development of digital services.
What we research
Research at the department is organised into research groups that develop projects and collaborate across disciplines. The breadth of research areas is considerable, covering several fields within the humanities. Fundamental research and disciplinary breadth are central to the department, and our work ranges from studies of sign language linguistics, medieval manuscripts, terminology and specialised language to digital narratives and storytelling.
Below are just some examples of research groups and projects at the department:
- CODICUM explores how book culture in the Middle Ages shaped society in Northern Europe, based on more than 50,000 parchment fragments.
- AI STORIES examines how narrative structures influence what artificial intelligence systems produce, and how we understand the technology.
- Norwegian across the Americas analyses the Norwegian language in diaspora and how it changes across generations.
- NONMANUAL studies facial expressions and body and head movements in five different sign languages, using large datasets, computer vision and advanced statistical analysis.
- Contemporary Aesthetics investigates how art, literature and media are shaped by political and social conditions in the present day.
- Welfare under Scrutiny explores what literature reveals about precarious lives, and the relationship between characters in precarious situations and welfare institutions.
See all research groups and research projects
Research centres
The department is proud to host two research centres:
- Centre for Digital Narrative, a Centre of Excellence (SFF). The centre conducts humanities-driven research into electronic literature, game studies, digital culture and computation in order to advance understanding of digital narratives.
- Centre for Norwegian Professional Language. The Centre for Norwegian Professional Language aims to develop new, empirical knowledge about how professional language functions and the role it plays in society. The goal is to strengthen Norwegian as a societal language when facing digitalisation, globalisation, and the increasing use of English.
Would you like to collaborate with us?
- Apply for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Humanities
- Please feel free to contact the Head of Research at the department, or the leader of the relevant research group or project
- Find an expert on a specific subject for press or media
Publications and doctoral degrees
- See publications from the department (external link)
- Overview of doctoral degrees awarded (external link) at the department
Contact the research administration
Research coordinator: Anders Marcussen Gullestad
PhD coordinator: Angelina Penner Gjertsen
Research adviser: Anna Polster