Proposed Closure of Phonetics and CL in Bonn

Bernd Möbius

SLTC Newsletter, October 2009

The University of Bonn, Germany, is proposing to close down the division of Language and Speech, formerly known as the "Institut für Kommunikationsforschung und Phonetik". The division comprises the programs in Phonetics and Computational Linguistics. The proposed move is also likely to terminate the teaching of General Linguistics in Bonn. A decision will be made in October 2009.

Background

According to the dean's office the motivation for this unexpected decision is the financial situation of the University, which is planning to assign the two professor positions (Phonetics and Linguistics) to a new teacher-training program, but anyway not to the area of Linguistics. I am concerned that the division was targeted because the search processes for filling the two professor positions have been plagued by some resistance from within the University in the case of Linguistics, and by obstruction in the form of a lawsuit by a competitor against the University in the case of Phonetics.

The reason for the move to close down Language and Speech cannot be that the groups are underperforming. Phonetics and Computational Linguistics in Bonn have been very strong in research and attracted funding to an extent that has put it at the top of the humanities in Bonn. Moreover, the pertinent teaching programs have always attracted a large number of students.

Delicate negotiations are currently underway to retain a minimal program in General Linguistics. However, even so it is likely that Phonetics will be abandoned, as will be Computational Linguistics. A decision will be made in October 2009.

Facts about Phonetics and Computational Linguistics in Bonn

• Phonetics in Bonn has a long tradition. It is the second oldest phonetics institute in Germany (after Hamburg) and has enjoyed a good scientific reputation and worldwide recognition. The first Chair of Computational Linguistics in Germany was at Bonn.
• Wolfgang Hess is Emeritus Professor of Phonetics in Bonn. The current Chair is Bernd Möbius (formerly IMS Stuttgart).
• Winfried Lenders is Emeritus Professor of Computational Linguistics in Bonn. The current Chair is Berthold Crysmann (formerly DFKI Saarbrücken).
• Hannes Kniffka is Emeritus Professor of General Linguistics in Bonn. No interim Chair has been appointed.
• Phonetics and Computational Linguistics in Bonn have produced a significant number of professors and researchers who are now active in academia and industry. Most recently, Petra Wagner from Bonn took the position of Professor of Phonetics and Phonology at the University of Bielefeld.
• Phonetics and Computational Linguistics in Bonn have a continuous tradition of attracting research funding and have been involved in large-scale (e.g., Verbmobil) and smaller research projects, in the fields of language and speech technology, phonetics, natural language processing, and forensic linguistics. The BOSS (Bonn Open Source Synthesis) TTS system is a recent prominent contribution to the speech technology community.
• Despite its small size, the division has a large number of students. Currently, there are about 400 students in the Magister program in Phonetics and Computational Linguistics and another 400 in General Linguistics. There are also 400 Language and Speech students in the BA program in Communication Sciences.
• Inside the University, Phonetics and Computational Linguistics have been cooperating with other disciplines, including Computer Science, Signal Processing, and Medicine.
• Department members are actively involved in supporting the profession internationally, producing successful textbooks (e.g. Kniffka, Working in Language and Law; Hess, Digitale Signalverarbeitung, Pitch Determination), serving as members of editorial boards (e.g. Hess, Kniffka, Lenders, Crysmann, Möbius), and taking leading roles in international professional organizations (e.g. Hess and Möbius on the ISCA Board).
• "The University of Bonn is one of the world's leading research based Universities" - I hope you will agree that this vision statement is in stark contrast to the proposal to close down one of the strongest research groups in the Faculty of Philosophy.

For more information, see: Speech and Language in Bonn (blogspot)

To support Phonetics and CL in Bonn

Those who would like to voice an opinion about the University's decision should send their letters to:

• University of Bonn
  Rektor Prof. Dr. Jürgen Fohrmann
  Regina-Pacis-Weg 3
  53113 Bonn
  Germany
  rektor@uni-bonn.de
  fax +49 228 737262
• University of Bonn
  Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy
  Prof. Dr. Günter Schulz
  Am Hof 1
  53113 Bonn
  Germany
  phildek@uni-bonn.de
  fax +49 228 735986
• Chair of Phonetics
  Bernd Möbius
  IfK, Poppelsdorfer Allee 47
  53115 Bonn
  Germany
  moebius@ifk.uni-bonn.de
  fax +49 228 735639

Bernd Möbius is interim Chair of Phonetics and Speech Communication at the University of Bonn. He is also an Associate Professor of Phonetics at the Institute of Natural Language Processing (IMS), University of Stuttgart. Email: moebius@ifk.uni-bonn.de

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