Mark E. Karan
Degrees
- Ph.D., Linguistics. University of Pennsylvania, 1996
- M.A., Linguistics. University of North Dakota, 1983
Current positions
- SIL International Sociolinguistics Consultant (2008 – )
- Ethnologue Regional Research Editor (2008 – )
- SIL Eurasia Area Language Assessment Coordinator (2007 – )
- SIL West Eurasia Group Survey Coordinator (2007 – )
Other experience
- Director of the Training Division, Academic Affairs, SIL International (2002 – 2006)
- Director of the Summer Institute of Linguistics at the University of North Dakota (1998 – 2003)
- Director of Academics and Language Programs, SIL Togo/Benin Branch (1984 – 1987), SIL Central African Republic Branch (1990 – 2001)
Language proficiency
- English
- French
- Sango
- German
Research interests
- Dynamics of language shift
- Sociolinguistic Field Methods
Selected publications
Publications in SIL International Bibliography
2001. “The Dynamics of Sango Language Spread.” In Dallas: SIL International.
2000. “Motivations: Language Vitality Assessments Using the Perceived Benefit Model of Language Shift.” In Assessing Ethnolinguistic Vitality: Theory and Practice.ed. by Gloria Kindell & M. Paul Lewis. 65–77. Dallas: SIL International.
2000. “Assessing Motivations: Techniques for Researching the Motivations behind Language Choice.” In Assessing Ethnolinguistic Vitality: Theory and Practice.ed. by Gloria Kindell & M. Paul Lewis. 189–205. With Jürg Stalder. Dallas: SIL International.
1991. “Near Mergers and the Suspension of Phonemic Contrast. ” Language Variation and Change 3:1. 33-74. (Co-authors: William Labov, Corey Miller).
1985. An Experiment in Computer Assisted Dialect Adaptation. In West African Languages in Education: Papers from the Fifteenth West African Congress. . Kay Williamson, ed. 199-226. (Beiträge zur Afrikanistik 27) Vienna: Afro-Pub (Veröffentlichungen der Institute für Afrikanistik und Agyptologie der Universität Wien (38)). (Co-author: Thomas W. Marmor).