Karmen Kenda-Jež (26 August 1962) is the head of the Dialectological Section. As a researcher she participates in the making of the Slovenian Linguistic Atlas (SLA) and manages the work for the Slavic Linguistic Atlas (OLA). Her research focusses on questions of theory, methodology and history of dialectological research and dialect lexicography. She has conducted extensive field research on the Cerkljansko dialect and the Zilja/Gailtal Valley local dialect spoken in Val Canale, Italy. She is a member of the editorial board of the journal Jezikoslovni zapiski.

Research Areas

• dialectology
• language geography
• 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 Terenske raziskave na jezikovnostičnih območjih – primerjava metodologije dialektoloških, folklorističnih, etnolingvističnih in sociolingvističnih raziskav (BI-RU/19-20-041)
• 2019–: head of the the Dialectological Section
• 2008–: leader of the Slovenian National Commission for the Compilation of the Slavic Linguistic Atlas (OLA)

Supervision:

• PhD co-supervision: Maja Bitenc

Other Experience:

• Guest lectures: Saint Petersburg (2017, 2018, 2019), Lodz (2012, 2014), Bratislava (2011)

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

• 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
• 2016: co-author of SLA 2.1 Kmetija
• 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