My current research is centered around reconstructing the spread and development of the alphabet, with special focus on the archaic Greek alphabets and their relationship with the neighboring Anatolian and Italic alphabets. I have a background in Indo-European linguistics, with a particular interest in the Greek, Anatolian, Italic, Germanic and Tocharian branches, and the reconstruction of Proto-Indo-European.

More information about Stefan Norbruis

Fields of interest

My current research is centered around reconstructing the spread and development of the alphabet, with special focus on the archaic Greek alphabets and their relationship with the neighboring Anatolian and Italic alphabets. I have a background in Indo-European linguistics, with a particular interest in the Greek, Anatolian, Italic, Germanic and Tocharian branches, and the reconstruction of Proto-Indo-European.

Curriculum vitae

Research
2026-2028: postdoc, the introduction of the alphabet to Greece and the wider Mediterranean region, Leiden University
2020-2024: postdoc, the phylogenetic position of Tocharian, Leiden University
2015-2019: PhD (cum laude), Indo-European origins of Anatolian morphology and semantics, Leiden University

Work on dictionary projects
2021-pres.: Lubotsky, Indo-European Etymological Dictionary, Leiden University
2015-2018, 2023-2024: Kessels, Sluiter & Rijksbaron, Grieks/Nederlands Woordenboek, Leiden University
2014-2015: Van der Sijs, elektronische Woordenbank van de Nederlandse dialecten, Meertens Instituut, Amsterdam
2014: Beekes,  Pre-Greek: Phonology,  Morphology,  Lexicon, Leiden University
2011-2014: Beekes,  Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Leiden University

Teaching
2024-2026: lecturer in Comparative Indo-European Linguistics, Leiden University
2006-pres.: teacher and tutor of various Indo-European languages (Greek, Latin, Hittite, Luwian, Lycian, Italian, Dutch), Indo-European phonology and morphology, and historical linguistics

Education
2008-2015: MA (summa cum laude), Comparative Indo-European Linguistics (specialization: Frisian historical linguistics), Leiden University
2008-2014: MA (cum laude), Research Master Classics and Ancient Civilizations (specialization: Greek historical linguistics), VU University Amsterdam
2004-2008: BA, Classics (specialization: Italic historical linguistics), VU University Amsterdam

Publications