Dr. Fred Weerman

Biography

Fred Weerman is a full professor of Dutch Linguistics at the University of Amsterdam, a position he has held since 2001. His academic journey began at Utrecht University, where he studied Dutch Language and Literature and General Linguistics, earning his doctorate in 1989. He progressed from assistant professor in 1988 to associate professor in 1989 and later became affiliated with Utrecht's University College in 1998. Weerman's research focuses primarily on the acquisition of functional elements in languages, specifically examining verbal inflection, grammatical gender, articles, and complementizers. He investigates types of language acquisition among children, adults, and individuals with language disorders, contributing significantly to the fields of language variation and change. He has supervised numerous NWO-funded projects and has published extensively, including a recent book titled 'Het verdriet van de talen.' Weerman has held various administrative roles, including dean of the Faculty of Humanities from 2016 to 2022 and member of several prestigious editorial boards and committees.

Research Interests