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Anna Mauranen

Anna Mauranen
Born August 31, 1949, Helsinki.

Doctor of Philosophy (English Linguistics), 1992, University of Birmingham
Master of Arts (English Philology, General Linguistics, Psychology), 1979, University of Helsinki

Vice-rector, University of Helsinki, 2014-

Dean, 2010–14 and Vice-Dean, 2007–09, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki
Director, Department of Languages and Translation, University of Tampere, 2001–05
Professor of English, University of Helsinki, 2005-
Visiting Professor, Copenhagen Business School, 2010
Professor of English, University of Tampere, 1999–2005
Professor of English Language and Translation, University of Joensuu, 1995–99

Research interests
English as a lingua franca, language theory

Publications, research projects and other academic activities

Photo: Veikko Somerpuro
Author: Suvi Uotinen
Translation: John Calton

Linguistic insights in basic studies courses

One of Anna Mauranen’s most important memories of her years as a student came during a basic course in general linguistics.

“I realised that language can be a theory and that grammar isn’t just a dull pile of rules but a model of a language.”

The course was given by Eugene Holman.

“It was only later that I understood what a great job Holman had done in bringing the latest theory from the United States. Internationalism in the 1970s was a whole lot less obvious in the University of Helsinki than it is now.”

Another figure to have an impact on the young Mauranen was the guru of Functional-Systemic Linguistics, Michael Halliday, whose lectures Mauranen got to hear during her exchange year at the University of Essex in the UK.

Anna Mauranen ended up writing her doctorate at the University of Birmingham (UK), alma mater to the late, great cultural studies scholar Stuart Hall.

As a student Anna Mauranen was an active demonstrator. In June 1970 she took part in a demonstration in the Railway Square, in front of Mikonlinna, then the headquarters of Nokia. The figure of Matti Nuutila on the placard was the head of the Nokia cable factory and the deputy managing director of Nokia. A seven-week strike of metal workers was ongoing. In the picture Anna Mauranen is behind her cousin Marja Rosti in checked slacks. Source: Martti Häikiö's "Fuusio: Yhdistymisten kautta suomalaiseksi monialayritykseksi 1865–1982. Nokia Oyj:n historia 1", Edita 2001, p. 186.​
As a student Anna Mauranen was an active demonstrator. In June 1970 she took part in a demonstration in the Railway Square, in front of Mikonlinna, then the headquarters of Nokia. The figure of Matti Nuutila on the placard was the head of the Nokia cable factory and the deputy managing director of Nokia. A seven-week strike of metal workers was ongoing. In the picture Anna Mauranen is behind her cousin Marja Rosti in checked slacks. Source: Martti Häikiö's "Fuusio: Yhdistymisten kautta suomalaiseksi monialayritykseksi 1865–1982. Nokia Oyj:n historia 1", Edita 2001, p. 186.​

 

By

Anna Mauranen

Anna Mauranen
Born August 31, 1949, Helsinki.

Doctor of Philosophy (English Linguistics), 1992, University of Birmingham
Master of Arts (English Philology, General Linguistics, Psychology), 1979, University of Helsinki

Vice-rector, University of Helsinki, 2014-

Dean, 2010–14 and Vice-Dean, 2007–09, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki
Director, Department of Languages and Translation, University of Tampere, 2001–05
Professor of English, University of Helsinki, 2005-
Visiting Professor, Copenhagen Business School, 2010
Professor of English, University of Tampere, 1999–2005
Professor of English Language and Translation, University of Joensuu, 1995–99

Research interests
English as a lingua franca, language theory

Publications, research projects and other academic activities

Photo: Veikko Somerpuro
Author: Suvi Uotinen
Translation: John Calton

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