Research Network for Languages, Linguistics and Literatures

We are an enthusiastic team of researchers exploring language and literature through many lenses—uncovering historical patterns, tracing themes across genres and texts, or examining how people use language in everyday life. Our work reveals how language shapes cultures, reflects evolving ideas, and connects individuals and communities.

We take a dynamic, interdisciplinary approach, combining literary and historical analysis with cutting-edge linguistic research. Our investigations also extend to language teaching methodologies, exploring how languages are learned and taught in different contexts. Whether we’re studying archival documents, analysing visual narratives, collecting real-world language data, our goal is to explore how language shapes the human experience—and how human experiences, in turn, shape language.

Guest lectures

The Centre’s guest lecture series forms part of its events programme and runs throughout the academic year and is open to all members of the University as well as the general public. Contributions from researchers in all areas of linguistic enquiry are welcome. The Research Network welcomes enquiries from those interested in presenting their work.

Training and Professional Development 

The Research Network organises a range of workshops that aim to support the acquisition of new research skills at different levels of specialisation. These can be aimed at our postgraduate student community or can be open and useful to all members of the Research Network. Please contact Dr Christina Kim if you would like to suggest a training workshop.

Research internships

During the Summer Term, the Research Network offers a number of research internships which are registered with the Employability Points scheme at the University. The internships provide an opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students to take part in current research projects in English Language and Linguistics and are voluntary. Please contact Dr Christina Kim for information on how to apply.

The ShortLit Hours Reading Group

The ShortLit Hours reading group was first launched by PhD students as the Postgraduate Short Story Reading Group at the University of Kent in 2011. The launch and establishment of the initiative was supported by UKC funding. The group met every Friday evening to discuss the week’s reading in a warm, inclusive, and welcoming environment, up till 2015. Literature was the spur for continuing conversations and lasting friendships. The short story reading group was revived recently in an online international format by three of the founding members of the group (Angelos Evangelou, Krista Bonello Rutter Giappone, and Vered Weiss), with many of the original members from Kent returning, and further expanding the community by opening it up to new participants worldwide. The reading group now meets once a month, on the last Friday of each month, from 4 to 6pm UK time. It remains a safe space where people can come together to share their love for literature and conversation – not simply with a view to stimulating discussion, but also to unwind and reserve a moment of respite in our frequently-busy schedules. The group does not exclusively target members who have an academic background in literature – all are welcome.

If you are interested in joining, please contact: shortlithours@gmail.com, or a.evangelou@kent.ac.uk and join our FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/560755549438575/