Hermann Paul Lecture

Invitation to the Hermann Paul Lecture 2026

How Linguistics Found Its Empirical Footing

Prof. Dr. Nikolaus P. Himmelmann (Universität zu Köln)

Date: 16.07.2026

Time: 6:15 p.m.

Place: Großer Saal (1st floor), Haus zur lieben Hand (Löwenstraße 16)

(The lecture will be held in English.)

We cordially invite all professors, researchers, and students to participate. Prof. Dr. Nikolaus P. Himmelmann will discuss how linguistics grew as an empirical science. Following the lecture, there will be an opportunity for discussion and exchange to jointly explore current questions and ideas. The latter will take place in the restaurant on the ground floor.

We look forward to your participation and engagement!

Best regards, 

Uta Reinöhl

Director of the Hermann Paul Centre for Linguistics

Since 2009 — and annually since 2014 — the centre has organised the “Hermann Paul Lectures,” in which leading experts present their perspectives on fundamental questions in linguistics.

Speakers and Topics:

03.07.2025 — Barbara Plank
Human-centered LLMs for Inclusive Language Technology

11.07.2024 — Petra Schumacher
The Future of Experimental Pragmatics

13.07.2023 — Salikoko Mufwene
Individuals, Community, and Language Evolution: Hermann Paul, Ferdinand
de Saussure, and William Labov

22.07.2022 — Hans-Jörg Schmid
“There is nothing quite so practical as a good theory” (Kurt Lewin). Does this also apply to linguistic theory?

25.02.2021 — Marianne Mithun
What shall we model?

11.12.2019 — Henning Lobin
Sprachkampf. Sprachpolitische Kontroversen und das Bild der Sprache in Wissenschaft und Öffentlichkeit

26.11.2018 — Geoffrey K. Pullum
Why Linguistics Matters

09.05.2017 — Jürgen Trabant
Weltansichten – Wilhelm von Humboldt und die Sprachen der Welt

14.06.2016 — Anne Cutler
Variations on ‘native language’

22.10.2015 — Adele E. Goldberg
Constructing meaning

17.12.2014 — Utz Maas
Wie Deutsch zur Schriftsprache ausgebaut wurde

15.05.2009 — William Labov
Sound change: the regular, the unconscious, the mysterious