Loraine K. Obler | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Distinguished Professor in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences |
| Awards | Doctorate Honoris Causa |
| Academic background | |
| Education | Ph.D. University of Michigan Linguistics |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | CUNY Graduate Center |
Loraine Katherine Obler (born July 12,1948) [1] is an American linguist and neuroscientist,internationally recognized as a leading scholar in the field of neurolinguistics and multilingualism. [2] [3] She is known for her contributions to understanding how language-related behavior is controlled within the brain. Her work spans diverse sub-disciplines such as the neurolinguistics of bilingualism, [4] language processing in aging and Alzheimer's disease, [5] and the cross-language study of aphasia. [6]
Obler is a Distinguished Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center where she holds appointments in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences,Linguistics,and Cognitive Neuroscience. [7] [8]
Obler received the title of Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Stockholm University in 1993 and Turku University in 2011. [7] She is an elected Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and the American Psychological Association (APA),Division 44. [9] In 2023,the edited volume Advances in the Neurolinguistic Study of Multilingual and Monolingual Adults:In Honor of Professor Loraine K. Obler was published in recognition of her career contributions. [10]
Obler completed her high school education at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York City in 1966. [8] In 1969,she earned her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Michigan with a major in Studies in Religion. Following her undergraduate studies,she pursued her further education at the University of Michigan. [8] She obtained her first Master of Arts (M.A.) in Linguistics in 1970 and deepened her expertise by earning a second Master of Arts (M.A.) in Near East Studies in 1973 and her Ph.D. in Linguistics in 1975. Her dissertation was conducted under the supervision of Ernest T. Abdel-Massih and titled "Reflexes of the Classical Arabic šayʔun 'Thing' in the Modern Dialects:A Study in Patterns of Language Change." [11]
Obler has had a lifelong interest in learning languages. She grew up in a predominantly English-speaking environment,but developed skills in speaking and understanding Hebrew during yearly trips to Israel. During her high school years,she studied French,demonstrating a good reading ability. She also studied Spanish,German,and Chinese,achieving varying levels of proficiency,and dedicated four years to learning Arabic,focusing more on reading and writing than speaking. [12]
Obler has held numerous academic and research positions. She has a longstanding association with City University of New York (CUNY),initially as a Professor of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences [13] and later as a Distinguished Professor. [7] Obler has held positions at Boston University,Boston University School of Medicine,the Harold Goodglass Aphasia Research Center at the VA Boston Healthcare Center,Emerson College,and internationally at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. [14] She was named a Senior Fulbright Specialist on Multilingual and Multicultural Issues in Speech-Language Pathology at Hadassah Academic College in Jerusalem. [15] [7]
Obler's work has examined a wide range of topics including language comprehension and aging,language performance under stress. development of bilingualism in immigrant communities,language processing difficulties in dementia,and agrammatism. Her book with Martin Albert,The Bilingual Brain:Neuropsychological and Neurolinguistic Aspects of Bilingualism, [4] become an important reference in the emerging field of neurolinguistics. The volume examined how multiple languages are organized in the brain through a comparative analysis of first and second languages. [16] Obler has co-edited a number of scientific volumes. Language and Communication in the Elderly is a collection of articles by eminent researchers and clinicians exploring diagnostic and rehabilitive approaches to the language behavior of both normal and senile elderly persons. [17] [18] Bilingualism across the Lifespan:Aspects of Acquisition,Maturity and Loss is a collection of papers on the development of language over the lifespan,bilingual language acquisition,and language attrition. [19] [20]
Obler's work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH),the National Science Foundation,and the Israel-U.S. Binational Foundation. [21] [22]
