Keynote speakers

Federico Masini

Sapienza University of Rome

Federico Masini is full professor of Chinese Language and Literature at the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy and Director of the Language Center (CLA) at Sapienza University of Rome. From 2001 to 2010 he has been Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the same University. He has been honored numerous awards, including «The 8th Special Book Award of China», by Ms Liu Yandong, Vice Prime Minister of PRC (August 28, 2014), and the «China Italy Science Technology Innovation Cooperation Contribution Award» at the presence of the Italian Minister of Miur and of the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology (November 17, 2015).

Rint Sybesma

Leiden University

Rint Sybesma is professor of Chinese Linguistics at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies, where he teaches linguistics courses at all levels in the department of Chinese studies. He was educated in Leiden, the Netherlands (Universiteit Leiden), and Shenyang, China (Liaoning Daxue). He holds MAs in Linguistics and Sinology (1987; Leiden) and a Ph.D. in Linguistics (1992; Leiden). His main research area is the syntax of the Sinitic and non-Sinitic languages of China.

Clare Wright

University of Leeds

Clare Wright is associate Professor in Linguistics & Language and School Director of Postgraduate Education. She teaches across the MA programme, and on core modules for the undergraduate programmes. She is a member of the Language@Leeds research network, and continues to pursue international research and teaching exchanges, working with colleagues in Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, and other partners in UK and EU. Her areas of expertise include Second language task-based pedagogy, L2 fluency, L2 morphosyntax, L2 Mandarin, psycholinguistics, and internationalisation of higher education.

Dan Xu

Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz

Dan Xu-Song is currently professor at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany) and Principal Investigator of an ERC project titled “Tracing language and population mixing in the Gansu-Qinghai area”. She is also a member of Academia Europaea (2021). She has been Dean of the Chinese Department of the INALCO (2001-2004) and the first President of the Association of Chinese Research and Teaching in France. She has been invited to be a Honorary professor in four Chinese universities and in 2009 she was elected Senior Member of the University Institute of France (IUF).