ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlyas Arslan

Linguistics · Zaza Language and Literature · Iranian Languages

My research focuses on Zaza/Kırmancki/Dımıli linguistics, Iranian languages, morphosyntax, linguistic typology, and language documentation. Particular areas of interest include ergativity, case marking, verbal morphology, dialectal variation, and corpus-based linguistic analysis. My current work also involves the development of digital language resources, particularly the Zaza Text Corpus.

Publications →Research & Projects →

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PublicationsArticles, Books and Book Chapters

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Zaza Text CorpusDigital Resources and Language Data

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Teaching & TalksCourses, Lectures and Conferences

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Academic CVEducation, Positions and Activities

Research Areas

My work combines theoretical and descriptive approaches to the Zazaki language and other Iranian languages, with a particular focus on grammar, language contact, variation and language documentation.

Zazaki Language

Grammar, structure and variation

ZAZAKI · IRANIAN LANGUAGES

Iranian Languages

Comparative and typological studies

Language Documentation

Digital resources and corpora

About

I am an associate professor specializing in Zazaki linguistics, Iranian languages, morphosyntax, linguistic typology, and language documentation. Since 2012, I have taught and conducted research at Munzur University, Türkiye. I was involved in establishing the Department of Zazaki Language and Literature and served as its head for many years.

I received my Ph.D. from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf in 2016. From August 2024 to July 2025, I conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Zurich, supported by a TÜBİTAK 2219 research fellowship, where I developed the Zaza Text Corpus.

Before joining Munzur University, I gained professional experience in academic library and information services at the University of Cologne and the German Sport University Cologne.

Selected Publications

Arslan (2022). Ezafe in Zaza Language.
Arslan (2021). Ditransitive Constructions in Zaza Language.
Arslan (2017). Zaza Dilinde Ergatif Sistemin Tarihi Gelişimi.
Arslan (2016). Verbfunktionalität und Ergativität in der Zaza Sprache.

View more publications on Academia.edu ↗

Teaching & Talks

University teaching, academic lectures, and conference presentations in Zazaki linguistics, Iranian languages, and language documentation.

Academic CV

Academic Qualifications

2022 — Associate Professorship (Doçentlik), Türkiye
2016 — Ph.D., Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
2007 — M.A., University of Cologne
1994 — Bachelor's degree, Hacettepe University

Academic Appointments

Since 2012 — Teaching and research, Munzur University
2024–2025 — Postdoctoral research, University of Zurich (TÜBİTAK 2219)
Founder and long-standing head, Department of Zazaki Language and Literature, Munzur University

Earlier Professional Experience

German Sport University Cologne (2008–2012); University of Cologne Medical Library (2004–2007).

Contact

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlyas Arslan
Department of Zazaki Language and Literature
Munzur University, Türkiye

Email: arslanelias@gmail.com

ORCID ↗ · Academia.edu ↗ · Zaza Text Corpus ↗