Nataša Gliha Komac (5 March 1974) is deputy head of the Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language and a researcher at the Department of Lexicology. Her research focuses on applied linguistics and sociolinguistics, particularly language planning and policy. She pays particular attention to the needs and practices of different groups of language users. She focuses specifically on regional and minority languages, particularly the status of Slovenian in areas of language contact. She is also interested in standardization, normativity and language varieties. She participates in the making of the 3rd edition of the Dictionary of the Slovenian Standard Language (eSSKJ; 2016–), the Growing Dictionary of the Slovenian Language and answers questions at the Language Consulting site. She also works as an Assistant Professor at the Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU. She is a member of the international Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages at the Council of Europe, a member of the Scientific Council of the Slovenian Research Institute (SLORI) in Italy and the president of the Slovenian Cultural Centre Planika Val Canale, Italy. She also regularly writes columns for different newspapers.

Research Areas

• applied Linguistics and sociolinguistics
• language planning and language policy
• regional and minority languages
• lexicology and lexicography

Education, Academic and Scientific Titles

• 2025–: senior research fellow, ZRC SAZU, Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language
• 2012–: research fellow, ZRC SAZU, Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language
• 2009–: assistant professor of the Slovenian language, University of Ljubljana
• 2008: PhD thesis: Razvijanje sporazumevalne zmožnosti v slovenskem jeziku v jezikovno mešanem okolju Kanalske doline (Developing Communicative Competence in Slovenian in a Linguistically Mixed Environment of Val Canale), Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
• 2002: MA thesis: Širjenje slovenskega jezika v Kanalski dolini (Spreading the Slovenian Language in Val Canale), Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
• 1998: BA degrees in A – Slovenian Language and Literature and B – Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
• 1992: exit examination, Gimnazija Tolmin, Tolmin

Employments, Leadership Positions and Competences

Employments:

• 2016–2019: secondary employment, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana
• 2015–2017: visiting professor, University of Trieste, Italy (temporary employment)
• 2014/15: temporary employment, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
• 2011–2013: temporary employment, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana
• 2011–: ZRC SAZU, Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language
• 2006–2011: Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana
• 2005–2007: Institute of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Education, University of Primorska
• 2005–2006: Faculty of Humanities, University of Primorska
• 1999–2005: Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
• 1999: Municipality of Bovec

Leadership Positions:

• 2023–2025: leader of the targer research programme Second Comprehensive Language Policy Survey on the Needs of Language Users in Slovenia and Users of Slovenian in Neighboring Countries and Worldwide  
• 2023–2024: leader of the research Kanalska dolina 2023 (SLORI, SKS Planika; ZRC SAZU Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language)
• 2018–: deputy head of the Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language, ZRC SAZU
• 2016–2017: coordinator of the target research programme Language Policy of the Republic of Slovenia and the Needs of Users
• 2014–2015: leader of the sociolinguistic part of the research project Selected Aspects of the Linguistic Situation in the Republic of Slovenia Used in Assessing the Efficiency of Its Current Legislation
• 2010–: president of the Slovenian Cultural Centre Planika Val Canale, Italy
• 2003–2015: managing 4 international research camps in Val Canale, Italy

Supervision:

• initiation of new colleagues into the work: Robert Cazinkić, Janoš Ježovnik, Duša Race
• PhD supervision: Tadej Kralj, Manca Černivec
• academic mentor for a linguistics student from ArgentinaAna Malvina Porcelo Žakelj: American Slovenian Education Foundation (ASEF), Visit Slovenia programme
• BA and MA theses supervision: Andreja Hergula, Andreja Joković, Nikoletta Vajda-Nagy, Eva Kavčič, Veronika Sossa, Jure Verčko

Other Experience:

• visits and guest lectures: Sarajevo (2019), Udine (2018, 2015), Trieste (school years 2015/16, 2016/17), Padova (2014), Tinje (2014), Manitoba (June–July 2007)

Work in Editorial Boards and Expert Commissions

• 2026–: editor of the monographic series Linguistica et philologica  
• 2026–: reviewer of national research project applications in Croatia  
• 2025–: member of the editorial board Slovenskega jezika / Slovene Studies  
• 2024: member of the international editorial board and reviewer of articles for the volume Manjinski jezici u Vojvodini, Jezička obrazovna politika, ideologija i praksa (Novi Sad, Akademska knjiga)  
• 2022–: member of  Working Group for the Preparation of the 2030 Strategy for Language Education  
• 2021–: reviewer of national research project applications in Montenegro  
• 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025: member of the commission for the assessment of the EFNIL Master’s Thesis Award  
• 2020–: member of the working group for the European Language Monitor project
• 2019–: member of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages, Council of Europe
• 2018–2024: member of the Commission on the Slovenian Language in Public, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
• 2018: member of the programme board of the international conference Research on European Sign Languages
• 2017–2019: member of the commission for assessment of the theses applied for the 15th and 16th Best Thesis Award of the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad
• 2017–2023: member of the international scientific commission for the development of multilingualism in Val Canale, Italy
• 2017–: member of the expert council – portal Smej se (Slovenian as a Minority Language)
• 2015–: member of the editorial board of eSSKJ
• 2013–2015: member of the Working Group for the Preparation of the Action Plan for Education
• 2013–: member of the editorial board of the Language Consulting
• 2011–: member of the scientific council – Slovene Research Institute in Italy (SLORI)

Outstanding Achievements, Awards and Grants

• 2025: Gujon's recognition for rich contribution to the preservation and development of the Slovenian language in the border region, authorship of important books, scientific monographs and research, and connecting Slovenians in their homeland and the border region
• 2025: Naša Slovenija award for long-standing dedicated work in the fields of education, culture, and research among Slovenians in the Kanal Valley
• 2022: Recognition by the Zveza slovenskih kulturnih organizacij v Italiji (Association of Slovenian Cultural Societies in Italy) for long-standing contributions to culture, education, and research in the Canal Valley in Italy
• 2018: guest editor of the 2nd issue of the scientific journal Slavia Centralis
• 2016: co-editor of the scientific monograph Lipalja vas in njena slovenska govorica (Lipalja vas and its Slovenian Speech)
• 2012–: co-author, co-editor of monolingual general and specialized explanatory dictionaries of the Slovenian language (SNB, SSKJ2, eSSKJ)
• 2009: 1st prize for the PhD thesis on Slovenians living in the neighbouring countries, Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad
• 2007, 2008: co-author of a bilingual English-Slovenian professional monograph O slovenskem jeziku / On Slovene, a publication presenting the Slovenian language during the Slovenian EU presidency
• 2005: co-editor of the scientific monograph Ovčja vas in njena slovenska govorica / Valbruna e la sua parlata slovena (Ovčja vas and its Slovenian Speech)

eSSKJ: Slovar slovenskega knjižnega jezika 2016– (v soavtorstvu)

2025: Druga celovita jezikovnopolitična raziskava o potrebah jezikovnih uporabnikov v RS in uporabnikov slovenščine v sosednjih državah in po svetu : metodološki oris raziskave (v soavtorstvu)

2023: Slovenian language resources at your fingertips : Fran, Franček, Terminologišče, and Language advisory (v soavtorstvu)

2022: Tipologija slovarskih oznak za tretjo izdajo Slovarja slovenskega knjižnega jezika (eSSKJ) (v soavtorstvu)

2022: Večjezično izobraževanje v Kanalski dolini in položaj slovenščine (v soavtorstvu)

2021: O slovenskem pravorečju - z vidika načrtovanja statusa in korpusa slovenskega (knjižnega) jezika

2020: Kje pa vas jezik žuli? Prva pomoč iz Jezikovne svetovalnice (v soavtorstvu)

2015: La religiosità popolare in Val Canale: il teschio lavato e avvolto nel panno

2009: Slovenščina med jeziki Kanalske doline

• 2025: Gujon's recognition for rich contribution to the preservation and development of the Slovenian language in the border region, authorship of important books, scientific monographs and research, and connecting Slovenians in their homeland and the border region
• 2025: Naša Slovenija award for long-standing dedicated work in the fields of education, culture, and research among Slovenians in the Kanal Valley
• 2022: Recognition by the Zveza slovenskih kulturnih organizacij v Italiji (Association of Slovenian Cultural Societies in Italy) for long-standing contributions to culture, education, and research in the Canal Valley in Italy
• 2009: 1st prize for the PhD thesis on Slovenians living in the neighbouring countries, Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad