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Jerold Edmondson

12/31/2012

Jerold Alan Edmondson (1941-2023) was a distinguished American linguist and Professor Emeritus of Linguistics at the University of Texas at Arlington. His academic career was marked by significant contributions to various subfields of linguistics, including historical and comparative linguistics, East Asian linguistics, field linguistics, and phonetics. He was particularly renowned for his expertise in the Tai–Kadai languages, focusing on the Kam–Sui and Kra branches.1

Academic Background and Career

Edmondson earned his PhD in Germanic Languages from UCLA in 1973 and later completed a Habilitation in General Linguistics at Technische Universität Berlin in 1979. He began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at Technische Universität Berlin before joining the faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington in 1981. He became a Professor in 1991 and was named Professor Emeritus in 2011. During his tenure, he served as the founding director of the Program in Linguistics, which evolved into the current Department of Linguistics and TESOL.12

Research Contributions

Edmondson's research included fieldwork that documented lesser-known languages in Southeast Asia, such as the En language in Vietnam. He received a National Science Foundation grant to study minority languages along the Vietnam-China border, leading to the discovery of previously undocumented languages like Xa Pho and Nung Ven.1 His work has been influential in understanding language variation and change, particularly in tonal languages.

Honors and Legacy

Throughout his career, Edmondson received numerous accolades for his research contributions, including the Outstanding Research Award and the Distinguished Record of Research Award from UT Arlington. In 2012, he established the Jerold A. Edmondson Research Endowment to support student research projects focused on field linguistics and endangered languages.1 He passed away on August 27, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of scholarly excellence and dedication to linguistic research.3

Edmondson's impact on the field of linguistics continues through his publications and the ongoing work of his students and colleagues at UT Arlington.

Highlights

Jan 1 · uta.edu
Faculty Directory - Department of Linguistics & TESOL - UT Arlington
Faculty Directory - Department of Linguistics & TESOL - UT Arlington
Dr. Jerold Alan Edmondson Obituary August 26, 2023
May 6 · en.wikipedia.org
Jerold A. Edmondson - Wikipedia

Related Questions

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Jerold Edmondson
Jerold Edmondson, photo 1
Jerold Edmondson, photo 2
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Location

Dallas/Fort Worth Area