Karmen Kenda-Jež (26 August 1962) is Head of the Department of Dialectology. As a researcher she collaborates on the preparation of the Slovenian Linguistic Atlas (SLA) and coordinates the work on the Slavic Linguistic Atlas (OLA). Her research focuses on issues of theory, methodology and history of dialectological research, as well as dialect phonetics and dialect lexicography. She has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Cerknoljansko dialect area and the Zilja (/Gailtal), local dialect spoken in Val Canale, Italy. She also works on the Zilja dialect as a compiler and editor of dialect dictionaries. She participates in the development of DIAtlas, the Slovenian geolinguistic database and application. She is a member of the editorial board of the journal Jezikoslovni zapiski.

Research Areas

• dialectology
• geolinguistics
• dialect lexicography
• phonetics and phonology
• sociolinguistics
• methodology of spoken language research
• languages in contact, language/dialect loss
• history of (Slovenian) linguistics

Education, Academic and Scientific Titles

• 2018–: senior research fellow, ZRC SAZU, Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language
• 2008–2018: assistant professor of linguistics, University of Nova Gorica
• 2003: PhD thesis: Cerkljansko narečje: teoretični model dialektološkega raziskovanja na zgledu besedišča in glasoslovja (The Cerkljansko Dialect: A Theoretical Model of Dialectological Research Applied to Vocabulary and Phonology), Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
• 1988: BA degree in Slovenian language and literature, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
• 1981: matura exam, Gimnazija Novo mesto, Novo mesto

Employments, Leadership Positions and Competences

Employments:

• 1994–: ZRC SAZU, Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language
• 2008–2018: secondary employment, University of Nova Gorica
• 1988–1992: young researcher, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana

Leadership Positions:

• 2019–2021: leader of the Slovenian group in the bilateral research project  Fieldwork in language contact areas – comparison of dialectology, folklore, etnolinguistics and sociolinguistics methodology (BI-RU/19-20-041)
• 2019–: Head of the Deparment of dialectology
• 2008–: leader of the Slovenian National Commission for the Compilation of the Slavic Linguistic Atlas (OLA)

Supervision:

• PhD co-supervision: Maja Bitenc

Other Experience:

• Research stays: Saint Petersburg (2017, 2018, 2019), Lodz (2012, 2014), Bratislava (2011), Celovec - Klagenfurt (2025)
• 1995–2019: regular annual meetings of the Slavic Linguistic Atlas (OLA) international working group

Work in Editorial Boards and Expert Commissions

• 2017–: member of the editorial board of the online New Etymological Dictionary of the Slovenian Language authored by Metka Furlan
• 2012–: member of the editorial board of the journal Rozprawy komisji językowej (Lodž)
• 2010–: member of the editorial board of the journal Jezikoslovni zapiski
• 1997–: member of the International Commission for the Compilation of the Slavic Linguistic Atlas (OLA) at the International Committee of Slavists

Outstanding Achievements, Awards and Grants

• 2023: co-editor of SLA 3.1 Kmetovanje – orodje, opravila
• 2019: online Dictionary of the Clothing Terminology of the Zilja/Gailtal Local Dialect of Canale Valley together with previous editions Shranli smo jih v bančah: slovarski prispevek k poznavanju oblačilne kulture v Kanalski dolini = contributo lessicale alla conoscenza dellʼabbigliamento in Val Canale (¹2007, ²2015)
• 2016: co-author of the monograph Lipalja vas in njena slovenska govorica
• 2013: organization of the regular annual meeting of the international working group and the Commission for the Compilation of the Slavic Linguistic Atlas (OLA)
• 2005: co-author of the monograph Ovčja vas in njena slovenska govorica
• 1996: editor of a selection of articles written by Tine Logar Dialektološke in jezikovnozgodovinske razprave

2025: The Eastern Rovte Dialects in the Slovenian Linguistic atlas (SLA)

2023: A Phonological Description of the Local Dialect of Gomilica (SLA Data Point 392, OLA Data Point 21)  (co-author Januška Gostenčnik)

2017: Govor Lipalje vasi v Furlanskem zgodovinsko-lingvistično-etnografskem atlasu (ASLEF)

2017: Jan Niecisław Baudouin de Courtenay: pogled v slovenski prostor skozi prizmo jezika

2016: Lipalja vas in njena slovenska govorica (v soavtorstvu)

2015: Shranli smo jih v bančah: slovarski prispevek k poznavanju oblačilne kulture v Kanalski dolini = contributo lessicale alla conoscenza dellʼabbigliamento in Val Canale

2015: Language variation in Slovene: a case study of two geographically mobile speakers (v soavtorstvu)

2004: Narečje kot jezikovnozvrstna kategorija v sodobnem jezikoslovju

• Research of endangered dialects in the Slovene language area (Brest with surroundings, Savudrija with surroundings, Porabje, Nadiža – Natisone and Ter – Torre valleys) (research project • October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2027)
• Research of endangered dialects in the Slovene language area (Radgonski kot, Gradiščanska, Hum na Sutli with surroundings, Dubravica with surroundings (October 1, 2021 - August 31, 2024)
• i-SLA – Interactive Atlas of Slovenian Dialects (applied research project • September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2024)
• Materialna kulturna dediščina v slovenskih narečjih: geolingvistična predstavitev (July 1, 2011 - December 31, 2015)
• Besedje iz pomenskega polja ''človek'' v slovenskih narečjih – geolingvistična predstavitev (applied research project • July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2010)
• The Slovenian Language in Synchronic and Diachronic Development (research programme • January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2027)

• Award of the Union of Slovene Cultural Associations ETS for Outstanding Achievements (2025)
• Award of the Slovene Cultural Centre Planika in the Canal Valley (Italy) for Dedicated Research Work and Publications Devoted to the Canal Valley and Its People (2022)
• Prešeren Award for students, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana (1989)