Field of work
I am a linguist mainly interested in the syntax of sign languages, but also on their semantic and pragmatic characteristics. I am particularly interested in the universal patterns behind spoken and sign languages and how their grammatical deion can help to formalize them. I have also been working on sign language assessment looking at potential differences in the grammar of native and non-native signers.
I am currently an Associate Professor at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) in Bergen, and I am the head of the research group Sign language, interpreting, linguistics and communication (TOLK). Before I was at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in Barcelona where I did my PhD and a two years post-doc.
You can find more information at my personal webpage: https://giorgiazorzi.com/ or here: https://nva.sikt.no/research-profile/1316524
Courses taught
2025-
- Intro to linguistics (within TST111 Norwegian Sign Language I) at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), Bergen.
- Introduction to sign language linguistics (TST115 Innføring i tegnspråklingvistikk)
- BA thesis (TST350 Bacheloroppgave i norsk tegnspråk og tolking)
- Introduction to Norwegian Sign Language (INTS810-1 25H Innføring i Norsk tegnspråk)
- Guest lecture in Interpreting and accompanying people with combined vision and hearing impairment/deafblindness (TST313 Tolking, ledsaging og beskrivelse 2)
- NTS807-1 25H Norsk tegnspråk 2, emne 3 – Språkvitenskapelige perspektiver på norsk tegnspråk og språklig variasjon. Videreutdanninger for lærere (KFK – «Kompetanse for kvalitet»).
2023-25
- Intro to linguistics (within TST111 Norwegian Sign Language I)
- Intro to sign language linguistics (within TST112 Norwegian Sign Language II)
- BA thesis (TST350 Bacheloroppgave i norsk tegnspråk og tolking)
- Guest lecture in Interpreting and accompanying people with combined vision and hearing impairment/deafblindness (TST313 Tolking, ledsaging og beskrivelse 2)
- Grunnleggende Norsk tegnspråk modul 1 at HVL, Bergen.
- Grunnleggende Norsk tegnspråk modul 2 at HVL, Bergen.
- Introduction to Norwegian Sign Language (INTS810-1 24H Innføring i Norsk tegnspråk) at HVL, Bergen.
2022-23
- Intro to linguistics (within TST111 Norwegian Sign Language I)
- Intro to sign language linguistics (within TST112 Norwegian Sign Language II)
- BA thesis (TST350)
- Co-teaching of Deaf culture, history and language (TST113)
- Co-teaching of Interpretation to/from Norwegian and Norwegian Sign Language (within TST211) - work in collaboration with a deaf Norwegian Sign Language expert.
- COIL collaboration on “Sign language cross-linguistic studies using corpora” (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany; Stockholm University, Sweden; Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil; Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway). April-June 2023.
- BA students supervision
2021 – 2022
- Intro to linguistics (within TST111 Norwegian Sign Language I)
- Intro to sign language linguistics (within TST112 Norwegian Sign Language II)
- BA students supervision
Research areas
Sign language linguistics.
See more: https://giorgiazorzi.com/research/
Research groups
Sign language, interpreting, linguistics and communication (TOLK).
- INTS810, Introduction to Norwegian Sign language, 25/26
- NTS807, Norwegian Sign Language 2, module 3- Linguistic perspectives on Norwegian Sign Language and linguistic variation, 25/26
- TST111, Norwegian Sign Language 1, 25/26
- TST113, Language, culture and history, 25/26, subject responsible
- TST114, Norwegian Sign Language 2, 25/26, subject responsible
- TST115, Introduction to Sign Language Linguistics, 25/26, subject responsible
- TST313, Interpreting, guiding and deion 2, 25/26
- TST350, Bachelor Thesis in Norwegian Sign Language and Interpreting, 25/26, subject responsible