Dr. Noemi Adam-Graf, ikg

After completing the bilingual Matura in German and Italian at the Graubünden Cantonal School, Noemi Adam-Graf (b. 1991) studied German and Italian Language and Literature at the University of Zurich (2012–2018). Four years after completing her master’s degree, she earned her doctorate in March 2022 at the “Institut für Kulturforschung Graubünden” (Institute for Cultural Research Graubünden) (ikg) and the University of Zurich. She is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the ikg and will take on the role of Deputy Director of the institute starting in August 2025.

In her dissertation, Noemi Adam-Graf explored the particularly complex linguistic landscape of Graubünden. She investigated how linguistic diversity is perceived and evaluated by individuals without formal linguistic training, demonstrating that linguistic diversity in the canton is indeed often perceived positively. The results of her dissertation are available online (https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-223815). In addition to the academic version, she authored a separate publication at the ikg titled “Reise durch die Sprachräume Graubündens. Eine Studie zur Sprachwahrnehmung” (2023) (Journey through the Linguistic Landscapes of Graubünden: A Study on Language Perception), making her research accessible to a broader audience.

As a permanent member of the ikg staff, she is currently involved in the following projects: “Die deutsche Schreibsprache von Chur im 18. und beginnenden 19. Jahrhundert” (The German Written Language of Chur in the 18th and Early 19th Century) and “Wortgeschichten aus dem Churer Rheintal. Ein Citizen-Science-Projekt” (Word Histories from the Chur Rhine Valley: A Citizen Science Project).

In recent years, Noemi Adam-Graf has gained valuable experience in both academic research and teaching: among other roles, as an Italian teacher at the Graubünden Cantonal School, a tutor at the University of Zurich, an examination expert at the Vocational School of Chur, and as co-organizer of the “20. Arbeitstagung zur alemannischen Dialektologie» (Alemann:innentagung) (20th Conference on Alemannic Dialectology (Alemann:innentagung)) in September 2022.

Noemi Adam-Graf is also a board member of the association "LinguisticA" (linguistica-ev.org), a professional network for women linguists. Together, the members aim to promote transparency, mutual support, and solidarity in professional environments where competition or a lack of transparency can hinder career development.