Ahačič – Podiplomska šola ZRC SAZU

Prof. Kozma Ahačič, Ph.D.

Professor at the Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU in the field of linguistics, as well as a Principal Research Associate and head of the Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language. His research focuses primarily on the history of linguistics and the history of language use. He is the founder and editor of the Fran, Franček, and Franja portals, a contributor to the Dictionary of 16th-Century Slovenian Literary Language, editor of the institute’s Dictionary series, and vice-chair of the Scientific Council of ZRC SAZU.

ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 4, 1st floor, Ljubljana
01 4706 162
kozma.ahacic@zrc-sazu.si
Office hours: Friday 8.00–10.00

Research Areas:

historical and contemporary sociolinguistics
organization and planning of work in linguistics
history of language use
history of grammar in Slovenia
lexicology
historical lexicography

Education, Academic and Research Titles:

2026: Full Professor of Linguistics at the ZRC SAZU Graduate School
2021: Associate Professor of Linguistics at the ZRC SAZU Graduate School
2018: Research Fellow at the Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language, ZRC SAZU
2014: Associate Professor of Linguistics at the University of Nova Gorica
2007: Ph.D. on the topic “Thoughts on Language and Literature Among 16th-Century Slovenian Protestant Writers” at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
2002: Bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana (A – Slovenian Language and Literature, A – Latin Language and Literature)
1995: High school diploma from Poljane High School in Ljubljana

Important long-term projects:

Dictionary of the 16^th-Century Slovenian Literary Language;
Slovenian Grammars and Normative Guides;
History of the Thought About Language;
Digitalisation of the 16^th-Century Slovenian Literary Works.

Main visiting appointments

Heidelberg (2018), Ulm (2013), Paris (2012), Saint Petersburg (2011), Prague (2008), Munich (2005, 2006), Moscow (2001, 2003)

Academic Appointments, Leadership Roles and Professional Responsibilities

Academic Appointments:

2003–present: Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language, ZRC SAZU
2014–present: Part-time Lecturer, Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU
2008–2013: Part-time Lecturer, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
2008–2017: Part-time Academic Appointment, University of Nova Gorica
2011: Visiting Professor, Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt, Austria

Leadership Roles:

2018–present: Director, Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language, ZRC SAZU
2015–present: Head of the Research Programme Slovene Language in Synchronic and Diachronic Development
2024–present: Vice-Chair of the Scientific Council, ZRC SAZU
2022–present: Head, Central Specialised Information Centre for the Humanities
2024–present: Editor-in-Chief and Project Leader of the Franja.si Dictionary Portal
2021–present: Editor-in-Chief and Project Leader of the Franček.si Dictionary Portal
2014–present: Editor-in-Chief and Project Leader of the Fran.si Dictionary Portal
2012–present: Member of the Scientific Council, Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language
2023–2024: Acting Dean, Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU
2011–2024: Editor of the international journal Slovenski jezik / Slovene Linguistic Studies
2017–2021: Head of the project Franček Web Portal, Language Advisory Service for Teachers of Slovene, and the School Dictionary of the Slovene Language (funded by the Ministry of Culture and the European Social Fund)
2011–2019: Head of the institutional project Digitisation of Sixteenth-Century Texts
2012–2018: Head of the Department of the History of the Slovene Language
2013–2018: Deputy Director, Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language
2014–2018: Principal Investigator of the basic research project Historical Dictionary of the Slovene Literary Language of the Sixteenth Century – Volume I
2016–2017: Principal Investigator of the targeted research project Language Policy of the Republic of Slovenia and User Needs
2011–2014: Principal Investigator of the basic research project Integration of Selected Grammars by Slovene Authors into the CTLF (Corpus de textes linguistiques fondamentaux) International Database and the Development of the Portal of Slovene Grammars and Orthographies
2012–2013: Chair of the Expert Committee for the Slovene Language, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia
2008–2010: Principal Investigator of the postdoctoral project Historical Linguistic and Sociolinguistic Characteristics of Language Thought in Slovenia between 1607 and 1758

Mentorship:

induction of new colleagues: Metod Čepar, Alenka Jelovšek
doctoral supervision: Aleksander Erniša, Mitja Trojar
early-stage researchers: Mitja Trojar, Janoš Ježovnik

Editorial boards and expert committees:

2014–: Editor-in-chief of the portals Fran, Franja (since 2024) and Franček (since 2021)
2024–: Editor of the Slovarji (Dictionaries) series
2024–: Member of the Awards and Prizes Committee, ZRC SAZU
2024–: Member of the editorial board of Naše řeč (Prague)
2024–: Member of the Executive Committee of the European Federation of National Institutions for Language (EFNIL)
2023–: Member of the ZRC SAZU Committee for the selection of projects for funding within the New Research Horizons scheme
2023–: Member of the committee for the development of shared objectives and their integration into curricula and knowledge catalogues in the field of Culture, Arts and Citizenship at the National Education Institute of Slovenia (ZRSŠ)
2023–: Member of the Curriculum Committee for Slovene Language at ZRSŠ
2019–: Member of the extended Orthography Commission at SAZU and ZRC SAZU
2019–2026: Member of the Expert Committee for the Slovene Language at the Ministry of Culture
2018–: Member of the ZRC SAZU committee for selecting candidates for “Word of the Year” and coordinator of the “Word of the Week” contributions for the newspaper Delo
2011–: Member of the Subject Curriculum Committee for Slovene Language at ZRSŠ
2023: Chair of the Organising Committee of the 20th conference of the European Federation of National Institutions for Language (EFNIL): From people for people: Online dictionaries, language portals and the role of language users, Ljubljana, 11–13 October
2022–2024: Member of the Working Group for the implementation of the Act on Scientific Research and Innovation Activity
2022–2024: Member of the Working Group for the preparation of the language education strategy until 2030
2020–2023: Member of the Expert Council of the Republic of Slovenia for General Education at the Ministry of Education
2022–2023: Member of the Working Group for the Action Plan of the Resolution on the Slovenian Research and Innovation Strategy 2030 (Goal 5)
2021–2022: Member of the Expert Group for the renewal of curricula for primary and general secondary education
2020: Editor-in-chief of the journal Književni jezik (Sarajevo)
2015–2019: Member of the Senate of the Postgraduate School ZRC SAZU
2017–2018: Member of the Council for Language Resources and Technologies at the Government of the Republic of Slovenia
2015–2017: Head of the Working Group for the inventory and harmonisation of linguistic terminology in curricula for Slovene, Italian, Hungarian and foreign languages at ZRSŠ
2013–2014: Member of the expert group for the preparation of the Action Plan for Language Education at the Ministry of Culture
2012–2013: Chair of the Expert Committee for the Slovene Language at the Ministry of Culture. In this role, also led the preparation of the National Programme for Language Policy
2014–2018, adopted by Parliament on 15 July 2013
2011–2012: Member of the expert council of the Stanislav Škrabec Foundation
2009–2011: Member of the language group for the White Paper on Education in the Republic of Slovenia Member of the programme committee of the conferences Obdobja 28, 30, 34 and 37, the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Škrabec Days, and secretary of the symposium Slovenski knjižni jezik 16. stoletju

Key achievements, awards, and scholarships:

2024: “Excellence in Science 2024” (ARIS): multi-authored monograph History of Slovene Literary Translation
2024: completion of the textbook package for Slovene language teaching in secondary schools The Power of Language
2023: international Pretnar Award – “Ambassador of the Slovene Language”
2022: “Excellence in Science 2021” (ARRS): Dictionary of the Slovene Literary Language of the 16th Century
2020: Zois Award of the Republic of Slovenia for outstanding achievements in research on the past and present of the Slovene language and innovative dissemination of scientific results to various audiences
2018: Delo Personality of the Year 2017
2017: Golden Seal of ZRC SAZU for outstanding scientific results in the history of Slovene linguistics and the conceptual and design development of the Fran portal
2017: “Apple of Inspiration” award from the President of the Republic of Slovenia for the grammars Kratkoslovnica and Slovnica na kvadrat
2017: “Name of the Month” (March), Val 202 (for Kratkoslovnica and Slovnica na kvadrat)
2017: publication of the grammars Kratkoslovnica: Slovene grammar for primary schools and Slovnica na kvadrat: Slovene grammar for secondary schools (revised edition 2024)
2017: Trubar Plaque for long-term contribution to the evaluation of Slovene Protestant heritage and the promotion of the Evangelical Church A.C. in Slovenia
2016: “Name of the Month” (October) for the Fran portal, Val 202
2016: elected full member of the French institution L’Institut d’études slaves (Paris)
2016: “Excellence in Science 2015” (ARRS): Fran portal
2015: project Slovene Grammars and Orthographies and exhibition of all Slovene grammars and dictionaries at the National and University Library (NUK), Ljubljana
2015: Golden Pear award and recognition for the best children’s book in a Slavic language in the field of Slavic history and culture at the Minsk Book Fair (for Men of Language: The Story of the Slovene Language)
2014: Grand Prize of the Slovene Book Fair: special recognition for electronic book of the year 2014 – the website www.fran.si
2014: Trubar Award for outstanding contributions to the preservation of Slovene written heritage (National and University Library, Ljubljana)
2014: Slovene Book Fair Award for best e-publication: Fran.si
2013: discovery of a new copy of Primož Trubar’s Cerkovna ordninga (1564) and exhibition at NUK, Ljubljana
2008: Golden Pear award for the book Primož Trubar.doc (11,000 copies)
2007: publication of one of the most frequently cited Slovene linguistics works: History of Ideas about Language and Literature in Slovenia: Protestantism
2004: scholarship from the Stanislav Škrabec Foundation

Awards and recognitions:

ARIS “Excellence in Science” award for the achievement: multi-authored monograph History of Slovene Literary Translation in Two Volumes (2024)
Award for the most outstanding research achievement of the University of Ljubljana in 2023: History of Slovene Literary Translation (2023)
International Pretnar Award – “Ambassador of the Slovene Language” (2023)
“Excellence in Science” recognition for being listed among ARRS exemplary achievements: Dictionary of the Slovene Literary Language of the 16th Century (2021)
Zois Award of the Republic of Slovenia for outstanding achievements in research on the past and present of the Slovene language and innovative dissemination of scientific results to diverse audiences (2020)
Golden Seal of ZRC SAZU (2017)
“Apple of Inspiration” award (2017)
Trubar Award for outstanding contributions to the preservation of Slovene written heritage, National and University Library, Ljubljana (2014)
Slovene Book Fair Award for best e-publication: Fran.si (2014)
ARRS “Excellence in Science” recognition for the achievement: Fran portal (2014)
Scholarship from the Stanislav Škrabec Foundation (2004)