Professor Bill Palmer
Professor
School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci (Linguistics)
- Email:bill.palmer@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4921 5157
The power of words
A dedicated team of Newcastle linguists is committed to studying the practical, scientific and cultural significance of dying local languages.
"Understanding language is important to understanding what characterizes us as humans," says Palmer, the leader of the Endangered Languages Documentation, Theory and Application research program and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Science.
"Language is something all humans are born with a capacity to develop - children learn language without effort - so it is fundamental thing that is unique to humans."
Palmer and his colleagues are interested in the 94 per cent of the world's 7,000 languages that are spoken by just six per cent of the global population.
"The big languages will still be around in 100 years' time but many of the thousands of very small languages may well not be around, so we are in a race against time to document them and study their significance," he says.
"It is estimated that between 50 and 90 per cent of languages spoken today will die in the next century. Basically, if children don't acquire a language then it dies in that generation.
"In Australia it is believed there were about 260 indigenous languages at the time of white settlement. There are still over 100 but only about 18 of them are spoken by the current generation of children. So in the space of one generation we face the loss of more than 80 of those remaining languages."
Why should we worry about the loss of languages spoken in some cases by only a single village in a small country? Palmer says there are several reasons, apart from the overarching scientific value of studying language.
"Some researchers are interested in language endangerment for what you might call the philanthropic reason that it is an important cultural thing, that there is cultural identity and ethnic identity invested in language, so they should be at least documented for future generations of the community, even if the language cannot be preserved," he says.
"Another reason is that there is a lot of traditional knowledge enshrined in local language that risks being lost when the language dies.
"I have read that something like 75 per cent of plant-based pharmaceuticals were discovered by people talking to traditional healers and drawing on the terminology in their indigenous languages.
"So another good reason to study endangered languages relates to the sum total of human knowledge, which is impoverished by the loss of human languages."
Palmer says researchers often spend up to a year living with villagers in areas where languages are endangered. That attention can itself elevate the status of local languages and convince people that they have something worth saving.
He says many villages where there are endangered languages have to balance the competing interests of preserving local culture and fostering a more global outlook that will give their children a greater chance of success in the wider world.
The Endangered Languages research program now has more than 15 researchers now working across Australia, the Pacific Islands, Africa, Central Asia and Saudi Arabia.
Find out more about the Endangered Languages Documentation, Theory and Application research program
The power of words
A dedicated team of Newcastle linguists is committed to studying the practical, scientific and cultural significance of dying local languages.
Career Summary
Biography
Research Expertise
Austronesian and non-Austronesian Pacific languages- particularly the Oceanic languages of the Solomon Islands and Bougainville, Linguistic typology, Linguistic and nonlinguistic spatial behaviour and spatial cognition and the relationship between language and thought, Syntax- particularly argument structure and coding, Phonology- particularly reduplication and stress.
Qualifications
- PhD, University of Sydney
- Master of Arts, University of Sydney
Keywords
- Language
- Linguistic structures
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
---|---|---|
470499 | Linguistics not elsewhere classified | 100 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
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Professor | University of Newcastle School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci Australia |
Academic appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
1/1/2011 - | Editorial Board - Mouton de Gruyter series Pacific Linguistics | Mouton de Gruyter series Pacific Linguistics Australia |
1/1/2008 - | Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Humanities and Social Science Australia |
1/1/2007 - | Membership - Linguistics Society of America | Linguistics Society of America United States |
1/1/2005 - | Membership - The Association for Linguistics Typology | The Association for Linguistics Typology Australia |
1/1/2004 - | Membership - Linguistics Association of Great Britain | Linguistics Association of Great Britain United Kingdom |
1/1/2003 - 1/1/2004 | Lecturer | University of Leeds Department of English Language & Linguistics United Kingdom |
1/1/2002 - 1/12/2002 | Research Fellow/Lecturer | The University of New South Wales Department of Linguistics Australia |
1/1/2001 - 1/12/2001 | Research Fellow/Lecturer | The University of Melbourne Department of Linguistics Australia |
1/1/2000 - 1/12/2000 | Lecturer | University of Western Sydney Division of Languages & Linguistics Australia |
1/1/1997 - 1/12/1999 | Lecturer | University of the South Pacific Pacific Languages Unit Vanuatu |
1/1/1993 - 1/1/1997 | Lecturer | The University of Sydney Department of Linguistics Australia |
1/1/1990 - | Membership - Australian Linguistics Society | Australian Linguistics Society Australia |
Awards
Recognition
Year | Award |
---|---|
1994 |
Frank Coaldrake Scholarship University of Sydney |
1993 |
Peter Lawrence Memorial Scholarship University of Sydney |
1992 |
Peter Lawrence Memorial Scholarship University of Sydney |
1992 |
Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) University of Sydney |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Book (5 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
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2018 |
Palmer B, The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area. A Comprehensive Guide, de Gruyter Mouton, Berlin (2018)
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2017 | Palmer WD, The Languages and Linguistics of Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific. A Comprehensive Guide, de Gruyter Mouton, Berlin (2017) | ||||
2009 |
Palmer WD, Kokota Grammar, University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, Hawai'i, 422 (2009) [A1]
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Nova | |||
Show 2 more books |
Chapter (7 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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2018 | Palmer WD, 'Language Families of the New Guinea Area', The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide, de Gruyter Mouton, Berlin 1-16 (2018) [B1] | Nova | |||||||||
2018 |
Palmer B, Gaby A, Lum J, Schlossberg J, 'Socioculturally mediated responses to environment shaping universals and diversity in spatial language', 195-205 (2018) [E1] This paper reports on an empirical experiment-based study testing the extent to which systems of linguistic spatial reference correlate with aspects of the physical environment in... [more] This paper reports on an empirical experiment-based study testing the extent to which systems of linguistic spatial reference correlate with aspects of the physical environment in which a language community lives. We investigated linguistic spatial behaviour in two unrelated languages in both similar and contrasting locations, ranging from atoll islands to urban environments, using standardised tests whose results were subject to quantitative analysis. Our findings reveal significant variation in spatial referential strategy preference in the two languages. Some preferences correlated with environment (e.g. island vs. urban). However, others correlated with degree and nature of interaction with environment, and others with linguistic resources available to speakers. The findings demonstrate that spatial behaviour reflects a complex interplay of responses to environment; sociocultural interaction with environment; and speakers¿ linguistic repertoire.
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Nova | |||||||||
2015 |
Palmer WD, 'Topography in language: Absolute Frame of Reference and the Topographic Correspondence Hypothesis.', Language Structure and Environment: Social, Cultural, and Natural Factors, John Benjamins, London 177-226 (2015) [B1]
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Nova | |||||||||
Show 4 more chapters |
Journal article (17 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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2022 |
Lum J, Palmer B, Schlossberg J, Gaby A, 'Diversity in representing space within and between language communities', LINGUISTICS VANGUARD, 8 1-10 (2022) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2022 |
Hoffmann D, Palmer B, Gaby A, 'Geocentric directional systems in Australia: a typology', LINGUISTICS VANGUARD, 8 67-89 (2022) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2022 |
Palmer B, Hoffmann D, Blythe J, Gaby A, Pascoe B, Ponsonnet M, 'Frames of spatial reference in five Australian languages', Spatial Cognition and Computation, 22 225-263 (2022) [C1] Australian Indigenous languages are widely cited as depending overwhelmingly on abstract cardinal terms for spatial reference. However, considerable under-recognized diversity exi... [more] Australian Indigenous languages are widely cited as depending overwhelmingly on abstract cardinal terms for spatial reference. However, considerable under-recognized diversity exists, with systems invoking aspects of local topography or egocentric projections. The first step toward an empirically grounded understanding of the wider implications of Australian spatial reference systems is to establish what components of spatial systems actually occur in what combinations across the continent. This article examines the spatial systems of five Australian languages to test hypotheses about the role of the environment in shaping linguistic representations of space, revealing under-recognized aspects of Australian systems, including the use of egocentric (¿relative¿) reference frame but only on the sagittal axis; a nearside-farside system; and multiple systems invoking diverse salient environmental features.
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Nova | |||||||||
2018 |
Palmer WD, Gaby A, Lum J, Schlossberg J, 'Diversity in Spatial Language Within Communities: The Interplay of Culture, Language and Landscape in Representations of Space.', http://www.dagstuhl.de/dagpub/978-3-95977-083-5, (2018) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2017 |
Palmer WD, 'Categorial flexibility as an artefact of the analysis: Pronouns, articles and the DP in Hoava and Standard Fijian.', STUDIES IN LANGUAGE, 41 408-444 (2017) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2017 | Palmer WD, 'Pronouns and the DP in Hoava', Wellington Working Papers in Linguistics, 23 191-203 (2017) [C1] | Nova | |||||||||
2017 |
Palmer W, Lum J, Schlossberg J, Gaby A, 'How does the environment shape spatial language? Evidence for sociotopography', Linguistic Typology, 21 457-491 (2017) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2014 |
Palmer WD, 'An innovated possessor suffix and category in central Choiseul', Oceanic Linguistics, 53 155-169 (2014) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2011 |
Evans B, Palmer WD, 'Contact-induced change in Southern Bougainville', Oceanic Linguistics, 50 489-529 (2011) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2011 |
Palmer WD, 'Subject-indexing and possessive morphology in Northwest Solomonic', Linguistics, 49 685-747 (2011) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2009 |
Palmer WD, 'Clause order and information structure in Cheke Holo', Oceanic Linguistics, 48 213-249 (2009) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2008 |
Palmer WD, 'Passive possession in Oceanic', Studies in Phillippine Languages & Cultures, 18 119-141 (2008) [C1]
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2007 |
Palmer B, Brown D, 'Heads in oceanic indirect possession', Oceanic Linguistics, 46 199-209 (2007) [C1] In many Oceanic languages the "indirect" possessive construction, which is typically associated with alienable possession, uses special forms to host person and number a... [more] In many Oceanic languages the "indirect" possessive construction, which is typically associated with alienable possession, uses special forms to host person and number agreement indexing the possessor. This can be contrasted with the "direct" possessive construction, typically associated with inalienable possession, where a lexical possessum noun itself carries possessor-indexing agreement. The host forms used in the indirect construction are often referred to as "classifiers." We argue that this term should not be applied to indirect possession marking in many Oceanic languages, and present evidence to show that indirect possessor-indexing hosts in such languages do not have the properties typically associated with classifiers. In contrast with this, we further argue that these indirect possessor-indexing hosts should be treated as the syntactic head of the noun phrase in which they occur, thereby allowing treatment of the syntax of NPs with indirect possession that is consistent with those with direct marking. In both instances, the person and number indexing morphology simply attaches to the syntactic head. © by University of Hawai'i Press. All rights reserved.
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Nova | |||||||||
2007 |
Palmer B, 'Imperfective aspect and the interplay of aspect, tense, and modality in Torau', Oceanic Linguistics, 46 499-519 (2007) [C1] Torau displays a highly complex system of aspect, tense, and modal marking. One of the most complex elements of this system is the marking of imperfective aspect. Imperfective in ... [more] Torau displays a highly complex system of aspect, tense, and modal marking. One of the most complex elements of this system is the marking of imperfective aspect. Imperfective in Torau is marked by a construction employing a choice of two overt imperfective markers and the possible presence of reduplication. The range of imperfective semantics encoded by this construction varies widely, encompassing progressive, habitual, persistive, and progressive inchoative or inceptive. Which reading is given depends not only on the choice of imperfective marker and the presence or absence of reduplication, but on a complex interplay of these factors with other aspectual, modal, or tense marking, and the aspectual semantics of the verb itself. This paper teases apart each of these highly interdependent factors to determine the independent functional characteristics of each imperfective marker and of reduplication. © by University of Hawai'i Press. All rights reserved.
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Nova | |||||||||
1999 |
Palmer B, 'Voiceless Sonorants Phonemes or underlying clusters?', Australian Journal of Linguistics, 19 77-88 (1999) [C1] This paper examines the phenomenon of voiceless sonorants in Kokota (Oceanic, Solomon Islands). The phonemic status of these phones is examined in terms of the question¿are they u... [more] This paper examines the phenomenon of voiceless sonorants in Kokota (Oceanic, Solomon Islands). The phonemic status of these phones is examined in terms of the question¿are they underlyingly phonemes, or the result of the synchronic surface coalescence of underlying /h/ plus sonorant clusters? The relevant data from Kokota are presented, then two alternative models are briefly described¿underlying voiceless sonorant phonemes in Iaai, and the surface coalescence of CC sequences in Lenakel.1 Evidence from within Kokota is then examined in an attempt to determine which model Kokota best fits. The paper concludes that these Kokota phones represent underlying voiceless sonorant phonemes, giving the language a consonant phoneme inventory in which every voiced phoneme has a voiceless counterpart. © 1999, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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Show 14 more journal articles |
Conference (86 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
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2022 | Krausse D, Palmer W, 'Serial Verbs and the VP shell in Vurës (Vanuatu).', Leibniz Centre General Linguistics & Humboldt University, Berlin (2022) | ||||
2022 |
Smith A, Ito K, Palmer W, 'Gamifying the Acquisition of Novel Spatial Terms: A Pilot Eye-Tracking Study', University of Melbourne (2022)
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2022 | Palmer W, 'Spatial language in Meryam Mir (Oriomo, eastern Torres Strait) and its neighbours.', University of Melbourne (2022) | ||||
2022 |
Palmer W, 'Terrain, topography, landscape, and place: The interplay of environment, culture, and conceptualization.', Places Across Cultures: Proceedings of the Third Internatinal Symposium on Platial Information Science (Platial'21), Enschede, The Netherlands (2022) [E1]
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Nova | |||
2019 |
Palmer W, Blythe J, Gaby A, Hoffmann D, Ponsonnet M, 'Geospatial Natural Language in Indigenous Australia: Research Priorities', Proceedings of the Workshop on Speaking of Location 2019: Communicating about Space co-located with 14th International Conference on Spatial Information Theory (COSIT 2019), Regensburg, Germany (2019) [E1]
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Nova | |||
2015 | Palmer B, 'Typologizing linguistic expressions of spatial frame of reference', ALT 2015: 11th Conference of the Association for Linguistic Typology: Abstract Booklet, Albuquerque, NM (2015) [E3] | ||||
2015 | Palmer WD, 'Marked-absolutive? Case, topic and clefts in Mono-Alu', Albuquerque, NM (2015) [E3] | ||||
2015 | Palmer WD, 'Case, topic and clefts in Mono-Alu', Montreal, Canada (2015) [E3] | ||||
2015 | Palmer WD, 'Putative morphological ergativity in Mono-Alu: the problem particle ga', The Thirteenth International Conference on Austroesian Linguistics (13-ICAL): Abstracts, Taipei, Taiwan (2015) [E2] | ||||
2012 | Palmer WD, 'Nominal number in Meso-Melanesian', Proceedings of the LFG12 Conference, Bali, Indonesia (2012) [E1] | Nova | |||
2010 | Palmer WD, Evans B, 'Austronesian-Papuan contact in southern Bougainville', Australian Linguistics Society Annual Conference ALS 2010: Programme and Abstracts, St Lucia, Qld (2010) [E3] | ||||
2010 | Palmer WD, 'Landscape in language: Integrating topography in linguistic spatial reference', The Shaping of Language: The Relationship between the Structures of Languages and their Social, Cultural, Historical, and Natural Environments 2010 International Workshop, Melbourne (2010) [E3] | ||||
2009 | Palmer WD, 'VSO order and the VP in Oceanic', 11 ICAL: Eleventh International Conference on Austronesian Linguistics: Abstracts, Aussois, France (2009) [E3] | ||||
2009 | Palmer WD, 'External objects and phrasal incorporation: Two apparent typologically unusual phenomena in Oceanic', ALL4: 4th Conference on Austronesian Languages & Linguistics: Programme, London, UK (2009) [E3] | ||||
2009 | Palmer WD, 'VSO clause order and the VP: The case of Oceanic', ALT8 Abstracts, Berkeley, CA (2009) [E3] | ||||
2009 | Palmer WD, 'Non-morphological reduplication in Torau', MOWL: Morphology of the World's Languages 2009: Program, Leipzig, Germany (2009) [E3] | ||||
2008 | Palmer WD, 'Clitic doubling and the Hoava VP', Directions in Oceanic Research. Abstracts, Ourimbah, NSW (2008) [E3] | ||||
2008 | Palmer WD, 'Imperfective aspect and the interplay of aspect, tense and modality in Torau', Linguistics Association of Great Britain Meeting 2008. Programme and Abstracts, Colchester, UK (2008) [E3] | ||||
Show 83 more conferences |
Other (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
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2013 | Palmer WD, 'Many languages in danger of extinction.', . Newcastle (2013) |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 27 |
---|---|
Total funding | $2,129,570 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20235 grants / $503,710
Time Layered Cultural Map of Australia: Advanced Techniques and Big Data$472,543
Funding body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
Funding body | ARC (Australian Research Council) |
---|---|
Project Team | Emeritus Professor Hugh Craig, Prof Paul Arthur, Professor Catharine Coleborne, Prof Penny Edmonds, Emeritus Professor Lyndall Ryan, Prof Ning Gu, Professor Bill Palmer, Paul Arthur, Prof Ros Smith, Professor Penny Edmonds, Prof Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, Professor Rosalind Smith, Andrew May, Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, Prof Martin Gibbs, Dr Julie Nichols, Dr Tully Barnett, Dr Julieanne Lamond, Professor Tully Barnett, Professor Julieanne Lamond, Professor Julie Nichols |
Scheme | Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | G2200565 |
Type Of Funding | Scheme excluded from IGS |
Category | EXCL |
UON | Y |
'Time Layered Cultural Map of Australia: Advanced Techniques and Big Data' - College cash contribution$20,000
Funding body: College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | E/Prof Hugh Craig (lead), Prof Paul Arthur, Prof Penny Edmonds, Prof Ning Gu, Prof Rosalind Smith, Prof Andrew May, Prof Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, Prof Martin Gibbs, Prof Catharine Coleborne, E/Prof Lyndall Ryan, A/Prof Bill Palmer, Dr Julie Nichols, Dr Tully Barnett, and Dr Julieanne Lamond |
Scheme | CHSF |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
To the side of, or just nearby? An eye-tracking study of an undifferentiated egocentric transverse axis in Australian English$4,944
Funding body: Australian Linguistic Society
Funding body | Australian Linguistic Society |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer, Professor Bill Palmer, Associate Professor Kiwako Ito |
Scheme | Research Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | G2300198 |
Type Of Funding | C3100 – Aust For Profit |
Category | 3100 |
UON | Y |
External collaboration_International_Palmer$3,723
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | External Collaboration Grant Scheme - International |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | G2300423 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
CHSF Conference Travel Grant $2,500
Funding body: College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | CHSF - Conference Travel Scheme |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2023 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20223 grants / $40,000
Modularised cultural heritage archives – future-proofing PARADISEC$20,000
Funding body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
Funding body | ARC (Australian Research Council) |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer, Dr Danielle Barth, Professor Linda Barwick, Professor Steven Bird, Professor Nicholas Enfield, Professor Nicholas Evans, Professor John Hajek, Dr Amanda Harris, Associate Professor Stephen Morey, Professor Jane Simpson, Dr Nicholas Thieberger, Associate Professor Sally Treloyn, Dr Myfany Turpin |
Scheme | Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | G2200142 |
Type Of Funding | Scheme excluded from IGS |
Category | EXCL |
UON | Y |
Acquisition of novel space-referential systems of endangered languages through video-gaming$15,000
Funding body: College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | A/Prof Bill Palmer (lead), A/Prof Kiwako Ito, Prof Scott Brown |
Scheme | CHSF - Pilot Research Scheme: Projects, Pivots, Partnerships |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Modularised cultural heritage archives – future-proofing PARADISEC - College cash contribution$5,000
Funding body: College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | CHSF |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2022 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20211 grants / $15,000
Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) Faculty Cash Contribution$15,000
Funding body: Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Emeritus Professor Hugh Craig (Lead); Professor Lyndally Ryan; and Associate Professor Bill Palmer. |
Scheme | RFP 2020 |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2021 |
Funding Finish | 2021 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20203 grants / $507,831
Landscape, language and culture in Indigenous Australia.$457,831
Funding body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
Funding body | ARC (Australian Research Council) |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer, Professor Bill Palmer, Dr Joe Blythe, Dorothea Hoffmann, Joe Blythe, A/Pro Alice Gaby, Dr Alice Gaby, Dr Maïa Ponsonnet, Maia Ponsonnet, Mr Laurits Stapput Knudsen |
Scheme | Discovery Projects |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2020 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | G1801507 |
Type Of Funding | C1200 - Aust Competitive - ARC |
Category | 1200 |
UON | Y |
Landscape, language and culture in indigenous Australia – Faculty/College cash contribution$30,000
Funding body: College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle
Funding body | College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Scheme | FEDUA / CHSF |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2020 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Faculty funding for external engagement in 2020 - Centre for 21st Century Humanities$20,000
Funding body: Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr J McIntyre (Direcotr); Dr GK Ariotti; A/Prof G Arrighi; Dr H Askland; Dr J Coffey; A/Prof N Cushing; E/Prof H Craig; A/Prof B Palmer et al |
Scheme | Faculty funding |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2020 |
Funding Finish | 2020 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20191 grants / $100,000
Faulty matching funding for UON PRC Scheme 2019 - Centre for 21st Century Humanities$100,000
Funding body: Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr G Arrighi; Dr H Askland; Prof H Craig; Prof P Dwyer; A/Prof J Gulddal; A/Prof M Harvey; Prof V Haskins (Director); Prof M Johnson; A/Prof B Palmer; A/Prof T Pender; Prof L Ryan. |
Scheme | Faculty funding |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2019 |
Funding Finish | 2019 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20181 grants / $100,000
Faculty matching funding for UON PRC Scheme - Centre for 21st Century Humanities$100,000
Funding body: Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Dr G Arrighi; Dr H Askland; Prof H Craig (Director); Prof P Dwyer; A/Prof J Gulddal; A/Prof M Harvey; Prof V Haskins; Prof M Johnson; Dr B Palmer; A/Prof T Pender; Prof L Ryan; Prof R Smith (Deputy Director). |
Scheme | Faculty funding |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2018 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20161 grants / $200,000
Faculty matching funding for UON PRC Scheme 2016/17 - Centre for 21st century Humanities$200,000
Funding body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts
Funding body | University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts |
---|---|
Project Team | Prof Hugh Craig; Prof Lisa Adkins; A/Prof Ros Smith; Prof Roland Boer; Prof Philip Dwyer; Dr Bill Palmer; A/Prof Mark Harvey; Prof Victoria Haskins; Prof Lyndall Ryan; Dr Trisha Pender. |
Scheme | Faculty funding |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2016 |
Funding Finish | 2017 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20141 grants / $90,000
Endangered Languages Documentation, Theory and Application$90,000
Funding body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts
Funding body | University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer, Associate Professor Mark Harvey, Associate Professor Aashild Naess, Doctor Catriona Malau |
Scheme | Research Programme 2014 |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2014 |
Funding Finish | 2016 |
GNo | G1400925 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20132 grants / $9,241
IGS0220 Materials in Ratsua and the dialects of Hahon, two virtually undocumented endangered Oceanic language of northern Bougainville.$7,741
Funding body: The Hans Rausing Endangered Languages Project
Funding body | The Hans Rausing Endangered Languages Project |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | Small Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2013 |
Funding Finish | 2014 |
GNo | G1300992 |
Type Of Funding | International - Competitive |
Category | 3IFA |
UON | Y |
Austronesian Formal Linguistics Association 20, Arlington USA, 17-19 May 2013$1,500
Funding body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts
Funding body | University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2013 |
Funding Finish | 2013 |
GNo | G1300646 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20122 grants / $314,267
Thinking and talking about atolls: the role of environment in shaping language and our understanding of physical space.$312,767
Funding body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
Funding body | ARC (Australian Research Council) |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer, Dr Alice Gaby |
Scheme | Discovery Projects |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2012 |
Funding Finish | 2014 |
GNo | G1100293 |
Type Of Funding | Aust Competitive - Commonwealth |
Category | 1CS |
UON | Y |
Austronesian Formal Linguistics Association XIX, Academia Ninica, Taipei, Taiwan, 26 - 30 June 2011$1,500
Funding body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts
Funding body | University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2012 |
Funding Finish | 2013 |
GNo | G1200562 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20111 grants / $25,000
Using spatial language on atolls to understand how the environment shapes the way humans think about the physical world and their place in it. $25,000
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | Near Miss Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2011 |
Funding Finish | 2011 |
GNo | G1001036 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20101 grants / $195,698
Documenting Ririo and Papapana: the two most highly endangered Northwest Solomonic languages$195,698
Funding body: University of London School of Oriental and African Studies
Funding body | University of London School of Oriental and African Studies |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | The Hans Rausing Endangered Languages Project |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2010 |
Funding Finish | 2012 |
GNo | G0190543 |
Type Of Funding | International - Non Competitive |
Category | 3IFB |
UON | Y |
20091 grants / $1,500
Eleventh International Conference on Austronesian Linguistics, Aussois, 22-26 June 2009$1,500
Funding body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts
Funding body | University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2009 |
Funding Finish | 2009 |
GNo | G0190243 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
20084 grants / $27,323
Expressing spatial relations in atoll-based communities: findings from Kiribati and the Marshall Islands$10,761
Funding body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts
Funding body | University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | Pilot Project Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2008 |
Funding Finish | 2008 |
GNo | G0189384 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
Expressing spatial relations in atoll-based communities: findings from Kiribati and the Marshall Islands$9,112
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | Pilot Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2008 |
Funding Finish | 2008 |
GNo | G0189054 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
Northwest Solomonic Materials$5,750
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | New Staff Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2008 |
Funding Finish | 2008 |
GNo | G0189027 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
Linguistics Association of Great Britain Meeting 2008, University of Essex, Colchester, UK, 10/9/2008 - 13/9/2008$1,700
Funding body: University of Newcastle
Funding body | University of Newcastle |
---|---|
Project Team | Professor Bill Palmer |
Scheme | Travel Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2008 |
Funding Finish | 2008 |
GNo | G0189317 |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | Y |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | PhD | Landscape, Cognition, and Language: A Fieldwork-Based Investigation of Inter- and Intracommunity Variation | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2021 | PhD | An Investigation of Language Change and Contact Effects on Tense, Aspect and Mood in Languages of New Guinea | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2021 | PhD | "DeYa Understand?": A Phonological Study of ESL Arab Learners' Listening Comprehension of English Weak Forms | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Past Supervision
Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | PhD | An Analysis of L1 and L2 Interference in Indonesian L3 English Writing | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2022 | PhD | Towards a Theory of Complex Predicates in Australian and Oceanic Languages | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2022 | PhD | A grammar of Fakamae, a Polynesian Outlier of Vanuatu, with a study of Fakamae multilingualism | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2020 | PhD | Topics in the Grammar of Mono-Alu (Oceanic) | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2020 | Masters | A Grammar of the Manihiki Language | M Philosophy (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2019 | PhD | Atolls, Islands, and Endless Suburbia: Spatial Reference in Marshallese | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2019 | PhD | Object Verbs: Link from Timor-Alor- Pantar to Trans-New-Guinea | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2016 | PhD | A Grammar of Nese | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
2015 | PhD | Topics in the Grammar of Zahrani Spoken Arabic | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2015 | PhD | A Grammar of Papapana with an Investigation Into Language Contact and Endangerment | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
2014 | PhD | Effects of Acculturation Factor on Saudi Arabian English Language Learners: A Contextual Comparison Study | PhD (Linguistics), College of Human and Social Futures, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
News
News • 9 Dec 2019
Discovery Project grant success for Centre for 21st Century Humanities researchers
Centre for 21st Century Humanities members Professor Victoria Haskins and Associate Professor Bill Palmer have both been awarded ARC Discovery Project grants.
News • 28 Mar 2019
Centre projects focus on creating new knowledge in the 21st Century
The Centre for 21st Century Humanities is hosting eleven new projects this year that connect with the theme ‘Knowledge Creation in the 21st Century’.
News • 22 Aug 2017
Atolls, Arkansas and how the place you live shapes your language
How does the physical environment you live in impact on the language you use to describe it?
News • 9 May 2017
UON Linguistics researchers awarded prestigious scholarships
Three Endangered Languages Documentation, Theory and Application (ELDTA) research program PhD students from the University of Newcastle have been successful in winning scholarships from the Australian Linguistics Society (ALS). The funding will be used to research and help maintain some of the world’s most endangered languages in Australia, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands.
News • 2 Oct 2014
Researchers work to save languages from extinction
The University of Newcastle has been awarded three grants from the Endangered Languages Documentation Programme (ELDP), UK, to assist in the documentation of endangered Pacific languages.
News • 26 Sep 2014
UK grants to assist severely endangered languages
The University of Newcastle (UON) has been awarded three grants from the Endangered Languages Documentation Programme (ELDP), UK, to assist in the documentation of endangered Pacific languages.
News • 25 Mar 2014
Linguistics breaks into world’s top 100
Three Faculty of Education and Arts disciplines have climbed in the most recent QS World University Rankings by Subject list. Linguistics is the star performer, increasing its ranking by 21 places to break the top 100 and rank at 88 in the world.
News • 18 Mar 2014
Linguistics, Education and Sociology star in the QS World Rankings
If you want to be at the forefront of linguistics study and research in Australia, the University of Newcastle is the place to be.
Professor Bill Palmer
Position
Professor
School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci
College of Human and Social Futures
Focus area
Linguistics
Contact Details
bill.palmer@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | (02) 4921 5157 |
Office
Room | SR140 |
---|---|
Building | Social Science Building |
Location | Callaghan University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |