Research Interests

Functional syntax
Semantics (lexical semantics, formal semantics)
Lexical aspect (the cross-linguistic encoding of aspectual properties)
Pragmatics
Cognitive linguistics (Conceptual Metaphor Theory, corpus approach to metaphor)

Academic Positions

2004- Associate Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, Mersin University
1995-2004 Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, Mersin University
1986-1995 Research Assistant, Department of Foreign Language Education, Hacettepe University

Education

1995 Ph.D. in Linguistics, Hacettepe University
Functional Universals and Some Aspects of Sentence Topic in Turkish
1988 MA in Linguistics, Hacettepe University
1985 BA in Linguistics, Hacettepe University

Grants and Fellowships

2006 Research fellowship, American Research Institute in Turkey
2006 Conference Grant, Mersin University
2005 Conference Grant, Mersin University
2004 Conference Grant, Mersin University
2004 Conference Grant, University of Geneva
2003 Conference Grant, Turkish Academy of Sciences

Teaching Experience

1995- Lecturer, Department of English Language and Literature, Mersin University

• Courses Given:

Undergraduate

İDB 215 Introduction to Linguistics I
İDB 216 Introduction to Linguistics II
İDB 303 Sturcture of Turkish I
İDB 304 Sturcture of Turkish II
İDB 305 Semantics I
İDB 308 Semantics II
İDB 307 Pragmatics
İDB 306 Sociolinguistics
İDB 403 Discourse Analysis
İDB 405 Applied Linguistics I
İDB 406 Applied Linguistics II
İDB 411 Graduation Study I
İDB 412 Graduation Study II

Graduate

DB 515 Introduction to Linguistics I
DB 520 Introduction to Linguistics II
DB 522 Applied Linguistics
İDB 603 Aspect and Aktionsart in Turkish
İDB 604 Lexical semantics and Aspect in Turkish
İDB 609 Applied Linguistics

Administrative experience

2007 Organizer 2nd Undergradute Students’ Meeting, 7 June 2007, Mersin University

2007 Organizer 21st National Linguistic Conference, 10-11 May 2007, Mersin University

2007 Organizer Talk on “on argumentation” (delivered by Dr. Joop Veld), 21 March 2007, Mersin University

2006 Organizer 1st Undergradute Students’ Meeting, 8 June 2006, Mersin University

2001 Organizer Talk on Turkish lexicon (delivered by Prof. Dr. Doğan Aksan), 17 April 2001, Mersin University

1999 Organizer Talk on Turkish syntax: Infinitives and Noun phrases in Turkish (delivered by Dr. Engin Sezer), 2-3 June 1999, Mersin University

1998 Organizer 12th National Linguistic Conference, 14-16 May 1998, Mersin University

1997 Organizer Shakespeare Days, 11-12 May 1997, Mersin University

1995 Organizer ELT Afternoons: INGED and Mersin University , 29 April 1995, Mersin University

Research Activities

Publications:

Aksan, Yeşim & Dilek Kantar A contrastive cognitive view of love metaphors in English and in Turkish. K.M. Jaszczolt, K. Turner & D. Shu (eds.) John Benjamins. [Accepted for publication]

Aksan, Yeşim & Dilek Kantar When LOVE IS A JOURNEY in English and in Turkish. P. Cap (ed.) Current trends in pragmatics. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Press. [Accepted for publication]

Aksan, Mustafa & Yeşim Aksan Degree modification and event semantics: Derived verbs and postverb constructions in Turkish. MIT Working Papers . [Accepted for publication]

Aksan, Mustafa & Yeşim Aksan The semantics of event plurality in Turkish. E. Csato (ed.) The 13th International Conference on Turkish Linguistics. [Underreview]

Kantar, Dilek & Yeşim Aksan The functions of Turkish indirectives in the construction of novelistic hybrids in O. Pamuk’s White Castle. Turkic Languages. [Underreview]

Aksan, Mustafa &Yeşim Aksan 2007. Adtabanlı eylemler ve kılınış özellikleri [Denominal verbs and their aspectual properties]. TÖMER Dil Dergisi , 16-36

Kantar, Dilek ve Yeşim Aksan 2006. A linguistic cross between form and content in fiction. A.Duszak and U. Okulska (eds.) Bridges and walls in metalinguistic discourse, 355-370. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.

Aksan, Yeşim 2004. Event structure, scale structure and the representation of selected accomplishment verbs in Turkish and Korean. S.O. Lee et.al. (eds.) Inquiries into Korean Linguistics I, 261-280. Seoul: Thaehaksa.

Aksan, Yeşim 2004. Aspectual properties of Turkish denominal verbs. Dilbilim Araştırmaları 2004, 15-28. İstanbul: Boğaziçi University Publication.

Aksan, Yeşim 2003. Türkçe'de durum değişikliği eylemlerinin kılınış özellikleri [Aspectual properties of change of state verbs in Turkish]. Dilbilim Araştırmaları 2003, 1-14. İstanbul: Boğaziçi University Publication.

Aksan, Yeşim 2003. Kılınış ulamına yaklaşımlar ve Türkçe'de kılınış [Approaches to Aktionsart and Aktionsart in Turkish]. A.Kıran et.al (eds.) Günümüz dilbilim çalışmaları, 68-81. İstanbul: Multilingua Publications.

Aksan, Yeşim 2002. Tümce konusu: Tanımı ve kapsamı [Sentence topic: Its definition and scope] . L. Uzun & E. Huber (eds.) Türkçede bilgi yapısı ve bilimsel metinler, 13-36. Essen: Die Blaue Eule.

Aksan, Yeşim 1997. Konu yorumu ve Türkçede kimi geçişsiz eylemler [Topic interpretation and the effect of some intransitive verbs in Turkish]. Dilbilim Araştırmaları 1997, 96-104. Ankara: Hitit Publication.

Aksan, Mustafa & Yeşim Aksan 1991. Metin kavramı ve tanımlar [ On defining the concept of text] Dilbilim Araştırmaları 1991, 90-104. Ankara: Hitit Yayınevi.

Proceedings:

Aksan, Yeşim 2006. Scalar semantic representation of aspectually variable verbs in Turkish. S. Yağcıoğlu & A. Cem-Değer (eds.) Studies in Turkish linguistics, ICTL 2004, 93-106. İzmir: Dokuz Eylül Publication.

Aksan, Yeşim 2004. Aspectual and lexical properties of Turkish and English denominal verbs. C. Meier & M. Weisgerber (eds.) Proceedings of the conference”sub 8- Sinn und Bedeutung”, 9-24. Arbeitspapiere des Fachbereichs Sprachwissenschaft117, Konstanz University.

Aksan, Yeşim ve Mustafa Aksan. 2003. Postpositions in Turkish: Adverbial use and aspectual properties. S. Özsoy et.al. (eds.) Studies in Turkish linguistics, 175-184. İstanbul: Boğaziçi Üniversitesi

Presentations:

Aksan, Yeşim 2007. Conceptualization of lover’s self in Turkish love metaphors, paper to be presented in the theme session “Metaphors of love and anger: Implication for the conceptualization of self” at the 10th International Cognitive Linguistics Conference 15-20 July 2007. Jagiellonian University.

Aksan, Yeşim (with Ş. Ruhi & M. Aksan) 2007. Co-convener of the theme session “Metaphors of love and anger: Implication for the conceptualization of self” at the 10th International Cognitive Linguistics Conference 15-20 July 2007. Jagiellonian University

Aksan, Mustafa & Yeşim Aksan 2006. Degree modification and event semantics: Derived verbs and postverb constructions in Turkish. Workshop in Formal Altaic Linguistics 3, 22-24 May 2006. Moscow State University.

Aksan, Mustafa & Yeşim Aksan 2006. Event semantics and the role of degree modification in Turkish verbal constructions. The 13th International Conference on Turkish Linguistics, 16-20 Agust 2006, Uppsala University.

Aksan, Yeşim & Dilek Kantar 2006. The Love as a Journey metaphor in the cultural schemata of English and Turkish speakers. 3rd Lodz Symposium: New Developments in Linguistic Pragmatics, 11-14 May 2006, University of Lodz.

Kantar, Dilek & Yeşim Aksan 2005. Contrastive linguistic analysis of love metaphors in English and in Turkish. 3rd International conference in contrastive semantics and pragmatics, 16-18 September 2005, Shangahi International Studies University.

Dilek Kantar & Yeşim Aksan 2004. The functions of modality markers in the construction of novelistic hybrids in Turkish. Chronos VI 20-24 September 2004, University of Geneva.

Aksan, Yeşim 2004. Nominal semantic structure in the aspectual composition of Turkish. Chronos VI 20-24 September 2004, University of Geneva.

Aksan, Yeşim 2003. Aspectual and lexical semantic properties of Turkish and English denominal verbs. Sub 8- Sinn und Bedeutung September 29th-October 1st 2003, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University.