Vera Lee-Schoenfeld is primarily a theoretical linguist with a research focus on German syntax. Her early work on constructions involving possessor datives and the distribution of reflexive and non-reflexive pronouns in sentences with embedded infinitive clauses and other clause-like phrases was published in her book Beyond Coherence: The Syntax of Opacity in German (2007). In more recent work, she has been investigating the syntax-phonology-pragmatics interface in the context of verb phrase fronting as well as dative vs. accusative case, passivization, and binding in double-object constructions. Covering more general topics in linguistics, her second book is titled Language Matters: A Guide to Everyday Questions about Language, Second edition (2010) and is coauthored with Donna Jo Napoli from Swarthmore College.
Prof. Lee-Schoenfeld, who was named a recipient of the 2019 Richard B. Russel Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, also has an interest in language acquisition and pedagogy, holding degrees in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and French Language Education.
Research
Syntax, Language acquisition, Germanic languages
