Beyza Sumer

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EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2025                

Coordinator of the ACLC Research Group “Multimodal and Embodied Language Development” (MELD), University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands (in collaboration with Dr. Ileana Grama, UvA

2024                

Confidential Advisor training, Merlijn Group / SKV Certification

2023                

Professionele Ontwikkeling voor UDs [POU], University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2020  

Certificate in Basic Teaching Qualification [Basiskwalificatie Onderwijs, BKO], University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2010 – 2015

Ph.D. in Linguistics, International Max Planck Research School (Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics) & Radboud University, Department of Linguistics (Centre for Language Studies), Nijmegen / The Netherlands

Acquisition of spatial language by signing and speaking children: A comparison of Turkish Sign Language [Türk İşaret Dili, TİD] and Turkish

Supervisors: Prof. Aslı Özyürek (Radboud University & Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics / The Netherlands), Prof. Pamela Perniss (University of Cologne / Germany), and Dr Inge Zwitserlood (Radboud University / The Netherlands)

2012 – 2015

M.A. in Applied Linguistics, Boğaziçi University, Department of Foreign Language Education, Faculty of Education (Major GPA 3.88 on a 4-point scale), İstanbul / Turkey

Scene-setting and referent introduction in Turkish Sign Language [Türk İşaret Dili, TİD] and Turkish: What does modality tell us?

Supervisor: Prof. Belma Haznedar (Boğaziçi University / Turkey)

1999 – 2004

B.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language, Boğaziçi University, Department of Foreign Language Education, Faculty of Education (with High Honours), İstanbul / Turkey

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Assistant professor, 2021 – present

Department of  Linguistics, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands

Lecturer, 2018 – 2021

Department of Linguistics, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands

Postdoctoral researcher, 2015 – 2020

Multimodal Language Department, Max Plank Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen / The Netherlands

TUBITAK research fellow, 2015 – 2017

Language and Communication Development Lab, Department of Psychology, Koç University, İstanbul / Turkey

SUPERVISION

Doctoral Dissertation:

2024 – present             

Louise Bony, CNRS, Universite Paris 8, France

Co-supervising with Prof. Marie-Anne Sallandre (Universite Paris 8)

“Effects of late sign language input on the expression of motion events by Deaf children acquiring French Sign Language (LSF)”

2023 – present                 

Jos Ritmeester, University of Amstredam & Auris, The Netherlands.

Co-supervising with Prof. Floris Roelofsen (University of Amsterdam

“Digital support for parents of deaf children learning Dutch Sign Language (NGT)”

2023 – present            

Hasan Dikyuva, University of Amsterdam & International Max Planck Research School (Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics) / The Netherlands

Co-supervising with Prof. Aslı Özyürek (Multimodal Language Department / Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics) & Dr. Roland Pfau (University of Amsterdam), The Netherlands.

“The Production of Negation Forms in Turkish Sign Language: A Corpus-Based Analysis”

2015 – 2021                    

Dilay Karadöller Astarlıoğlu, International Max Planck Research School (Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics) & Department of Linguistics (Centre for Language Studies), Radboud University / The Netherlands               

Co-supervised with Prof Aslı Özyürek (Radboud University, The Netherlands) and Dr Ercenur Ünal (Özyeğin University, Turkey)

“Effect of linguistic experience and iconicity on memory for expressing spatial relations: Evidence from native and non-native signing children and adults”

2015 – 2019                  

Cansu Gür, Department of Linguistics, University, Erzurum / Turkey

“Effects of late language exposure on the development of narrative skills: Insights from Turkish Sign Language (TİD)”

Master’s Thesis (MA & rMA):

2024

  • Eshal Skaria, MA in General Linguistics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam / The Netherlands

“A Systematic Review of Music Therapy’s Role in Improving Speech Fluency in Individuals who Stutter”

  • Mathijs Riksen, MA in General Linguistics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam / The Netherlands

“The efficacy of using abstract items in treating naming deficits in persons with aphasia: a systematic literature review”

  • Rachelle Dogger, MA in General Linguistics (Clinical Track), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam / The Netherlands

“Parental perspectives versus objective measures: understanding language abilities in children with Developmental Language Disorder”

2023                               

  • Lydia Palaiologou, (co-supervising with Prof. Enoch Aboh), MA in General Linguistics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam / The Netherlands

“Homesign systems and the innateness hypothesis”                                       

  • Odysseas Asithianakis, rMA in Linguistics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam / The Netherlands      

“Gesture perception and Identity”

  • Lisa Lepp, MA in General Linguistics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam / The Netherlands

“Acquiring NGT signs by deaf refugee children in the Netherlands”

  • Jos Ritmeester, MA in General Linguistics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam / The Netherlands

“Interaction patterns in Dutch child directed language: A corpus-based approach”         

  • Karlijn Smith, MA in General Linguistics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam / The Netherlands

“Lexical sign production by signers with aphasia”

2018                                       

  • Veerle Schoon, rMA in Linguistics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam / The Netherlands

“Revisiting patterns of handshape in the acquisition of classifier constructions in Turkish Sign Language (TİD”

FUNDINGS & AWARDS

2025

Pre-finalist of Amsterdam Science and Innovation Awards (AmSIA) in the category of Society                

2024

Recognition award for Societal Impact by Amsterdam Young Academy (AYA) (2,000 Euros)

2021-2022

CLARIAH Teaching Fellowship, proposal to develop a digital platform for the improved use of ELAN (transcription tool for visual data) in class (20,000 Euros)

2018

National Media Prize for “Development of the first research-based cartoon series for the Deaf children in Turkey”, by Accessible Information Technologies Society, İstanbul / Turkey

2015-2017

Postdoctoral Research Grant, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Co-funded Brain Circulation Scheme, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Koç University, İstanbul / Turkey (115,000 Euros)

2012

Finalist, Best Talk Award, 11th Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research Conference (TISLR), London / The United Kingdom

2012

Paula Menyuk Travel Award, Boston University Conference on Language Development (BUCLD 36), The USA

INVITED TALKS

Sümer, B. (2024). Emergence of Negation in a Turkish Homesign System: Insights from the Family Context. Turkish in Contact Workhop. Amsterdam / The Netherlands. Invited Talk.

Sümer, B. (2024). Relationship between language experience, language use and memory. Seminar on Sign Languages. Paris / France. Invited Talk.

Sümer, B. & Pfau, R. (2023). Manner and Path in Serial Verb Constructions. Serial Verbs Across Modalities Workshop. Paris / France. Invited Talk.

Sümer, B. (2021). Sign language in the brain. Brain Week, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands.

Sümer, B. (2018). Different effects of iconicity in sign language acquisition. Nijmegen Gesture Centre, Radboud University / The Netherlands.

Sümer, B. (2018). Late language exposure influences spatial language development: Evidence from Turkish Sign Language (TİD). Grammar and Cognition Lab, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands.

Sümer, B. (2018). Different effects of iconicity on sign language acquisition. Amsterdam Center for Language and Communication (ACLC), University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands.

Sümer, B. & Akkökler, B. (2018). When research turns into practice: A cartoon series in Turkish Sign Language. 18th International Congress on Accessible Information Technologies, İstanbul / Turkey.

Sümer, B. & Dikyuva, H. (2017). Language acquisition by deaf children and media applications. The 6th International Children’s Media Conference, İstanbul / Turkey.

Sümer, B. & Özyürek, A. (2016). What do our hands tell us about language, communication and cognition? Insights from deaf and hearing individuals. International Symposium on Brain and Cognitive Science (ISBCS 3), Yeditepe University, İstanbul / Turkey.

Sümer, B., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2015). The role of body in learning to express spatial relations: A comparison of spatial language development in sign, speech, and gesture. Laboratory for Developmental Studies (Spelke Lab), Harvard University, Boston / The USA.

Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2014). Modality in development of spatial expressions: A comparison of sign and speech. Centre for Sign Linguistics and Deaf Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong / Hong Kong.

Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2014). Do the hands have the upper hand? Learning to express space by deaf children acquiring sign language. Centre for Languages (CLS) Colloquium, Radboud University / The Netherlands.

Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2013). When the hands acquire language: Acquisition of Spatial Language in Turkish and Turkish Sign Language. Koç University, İstanbul / Turkey.

Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2012). Effects of modality in acquisition of spatial language by Deaf and hearing children. Talk presented at IMPRS Evaluation Event, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics / The Netherlands.

Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2011). Development of locative expressions by Deaf and hearing Turkish children: Are there modality effects? Experimental Linguistics Talks Utrecht (ELiTU), Utrecht University / The Netherlands.

Sümer, B. (2008). The effect of total quality management on the lives of the deaf children. 11th International Convention on Students’ İmece Circles”, İstanbul / Turkey.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

  • Schiefner, A., Roelofsen, F., & Sümer, B. (accepted). Iconic or transparent? On the relationship between iconicity and transparency in Sign Language of the Netherlands. Talk to be presented at 10th Conference of the International Society for Gesture Studies, Nijmegen / The Netherlands (July, 2025).
  • Dikyuva, H., Pfau, R., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (accepted). The Interplay of Manual and Non-Manual Markers of Negation in Turkish Sign Language (TİD): A Corpus-Based Analysis. Talk to be presented at Multimodal Negation Workshop, Nijmegen / The Netherlands (July, 2025).
  • Sümer, B. & Sallandre, M.A. (accepted). Bridging Gaps in Deaf Education: The Role of Sign Language Acquisition Research. Symposium to be held at the 24th International Conference on the Education of the Deaf (ICED), Rome, Italy (July, 2025).
  • Sümer, B. (accepted). Assessing early vocabulary development in late signing Deaf children. Talk to be presented at the 24th International Conference on the Education of the Deaf (ICED), Rome, Italy (July, 2025).
  •  Ritmeester, J., Sümer, B., Boonstra, M., de Meulder, M., van der Aa, B., & Roelofsen, F. (accepted). User Perspectives on ZINinNGT: A Mobile App to Support Parents of Deaf Children in Learning Dutch Sign Language. Talk to be presented at the 24th International Conference on the Education of the Deaf (ICED), Rome, Italy (July, 2025).
  • Gür, C. & Sümer, B. (accepted). Exploring the Impact of Elicitation Tasks on Narrative Production in Deaf Signers. Poster to be presented at 10th Conference of the International Society for Gesture Studies, Nijmegen / The Netherlands (July, 2025).
  • Kan, U., Gökgöz, K., Sümer , B. & Özyürek, A. (accepted).  The Role of Input on Emergence of Negation in Turkish Homesign: A Case Study. Poster to be presented at 10th Conference of the International Society for Gesture Studies, Nijmegen / The Netherlands (July, 2025).
  • Asithianakis, O. & Sümer, B. (2024). The gestural other: Accentedness, gesture use and the perception of identity. Talk presented at International Congress of Linguists. Poznan / Poland.
  •  Sümer, B. & Pfau, R. (2024). Complex motion predicates in Turkish Sign Language: a developmental perspective. Talk presented at Societas Linguistica Europaea. Helsinki / Finland.
  • Vachaudez, S., Pfau, R., & Sümer, B. (2024). Thoughts vs. actions: Particle choice in Adamorobe Sign Language negation. Talk presented at the 21st International Congress of Linguists (ICL). Poznań, Poland.
  • Vachaudez, S., Sümer, B. & Pfau, R. (2024). Thoughts vs. actions: Particle choice in Adamorobe Sign Language negation. Poster presented at Formal and Experimental Advances in Sign Language Theory conference (FEAST). Michigan / The USA.
  • Clough, S., Sümer, B., de Laat, K., Tanguay, A. F. N., Brown-Schmidt, S., Duff, M C.., & Özyürek, A. (2024). Recent and remote memory for spatial narratives in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and healthy older adults: A multimodal perspective. Poster presented at Dubrovnik Conference on Cognitive Science. Dubrovnik / Crotia
  • Clough, S., Sümer, B., De Laat, K., Tanguay, A., Brown-Schmidt, S., Duff, M. C., et al. (2024). Spatial narratives from remote and recent memory in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and healthy older adults: A multimodal and kinematic perspective. Poster presented at the 2nd International Multimodal Communication Symposium (MMSYM 2024), Frankfurt, Germany.
  • Dikyuva, H., Pfau, R., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2024). Negation markers in Turkish Sign Language (TID). Poster presented at the MEDAL Summer School in Experimental Linguistics 2024, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Ünal, E., Sümer, B., Göksun, T., Özer, D., & Özyürek, A. (2023). Children express more information multimodally when describing Left-Right relations. Talk to be presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Jean Piaget Society, Madrid, Spain.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Kırbaşoğlu, K., Sümer, B, & Ünal, E. (2023). Children use gestures to increase the informativeness of their spatial expressions depending on the complexity of spatial relations. Talk presented at the 1st International Multimodal Communication Symposium (MMSYM 2023). Barcelona, Spain.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Kırbaşoğlu, K., Sümer, B., & Ünal, E. (2023, April). Children use gestures to increase the informativeness of their spatial expressions depending on the complexity of spatial relations. Talk to be presented at the 1st International Multimodal Communication Symposium, Barcelona / Spain. 
  • Sümer, B. (2022). ELANport: Web-based training for ELAN. Poster presented at CLARIAH & NDE Annual Conference, Utrecht / The Netherlands.
  • Sümer, B. & Özyürek, A. (2022). Action bias in describing object locations by signing children. Talk presented at SignCafe2, Ragusa / Italy.
  • Sümer, B. & Özyürek, A. (2022). Language use in deaf children with early-signing versus late-signing deaf parents. Talk presented at the International Conference on Sign Language Acquisition (ICSLA 4).
  •  Sümer, B, Schoon, V., & Özyürek, A. (2022). Child-directed spatial language input in sign language: Modality specific and general patterns. Invited poster presented at TOK DAG, Nijmegen / the Netherlands.
  • Kan, U., Gökgöz, K., Sümer, B., Tamyürek, E., & Özyürek, A. (2022). Emergence of negation in a Turkish homesign system: Insights from the family context. Talk presented at the Joint Conference on Language Evolution (JCoLE). Kanazawa, Japan.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., Ünal, E., & Özyürek, A. (2022). Relationship between spatial language experience and spatial memory: Evidence from deaf children with late sign language exposure. Talk presented at the International Conference on Sign Language Acquisition (ICSLA 4).
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., Ünal, E., & Özyürek, A. (2022). Geç işaret dilini ediniminin uzamsal dil ve bellek ilişkisine etkileri [Effect of late sign language acquisition on the relationship between spatial language and memory]. Talk presented at 3. Gelişim Psikolojisi Sempozyumu [3rd Symposium on Developmental Psychology]. Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Ünal, E., Kırbaşoğlu, K., Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2022). Children’s multimodal spatial expressions vary across the complexity of relations. Poster presented at the 8th International Symposium on Brain and Cognitive Science, online.
  • Kırbaşoğlu, K., Ünal, E., Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2022). Konuşma ve jestlerde uzamsal ifadelerin gelişimi [Development of spatial expressions on speech and gesture]. Poster presented at 3. Gelişim Psikolojisi Sempozyumu [3rd Symposium on Developmental Psychology], Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., Ünal, E. & Özyürek, A. (2021). Spatial Language Use Predicts Spatial Memory of Children: Evidence from Sign, Speech, and Speech-plus-gesture. Talk accepted to the 43th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Vienna / Austria.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., Ünal, E., & Özyürek, A. (2020). Sign advantage for children: Signing children’s spatial expressions are more informative than speaking children’s speech and gestures combined. Talk presented at the 45th Annual Boston University (Virtual) Conference on Language Development (BUCLD 45). Boston, MA / The USA.
  • Sümer, B, Schoon, V., & Özyürek, A. (2019). Child-directed spatial language input in sign language: Modality specific and general patterns. Poster presented at the 13th conference of Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research (TISLR 13), Hamburg / Germany.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Ünal, E., Sümer, B., Göksun, T., Özer, D., & Özyürek, A. (2019). Children but not adults use both speech and gesture to produce informative expressions of Left-Right relations. Poster presented at the 44th Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development (BUCLD 44), Boston, MA / The USA.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Ünal, E., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2019). Children but not adults use both speech and gesture to produce informative expressions of Left-Right relations. Poster presented at the Donders Poster Sessions, Radboud University / The Netherlands.
  • Manhardt, F., Brouwer, S., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2019). Cross-modal conceptual transfer in bimodal bilinguals. Poster presented at the LingCologne 2019 conference, University of Cologne / Germany.
  • Sümer, B. (2018). From research into society: technology & media applications for Turkish Sign Language (TİD). 3rd International Conference on Sign Language Acquisition (ICSLA2018), İstanbul / Turkey.
  • Gür, C. & Sümer, B. (2018). Effects of late language exposure on acquiring narrative skills by deaf children: Insights from Turkish Sign Language. Poster presentation with a highlight talk at the 3rd International Conference on Sign Language Acquisition (ICSLA2018), İstanbul / Turkey.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2018). Effects of delayed sign language exposure on spatial language acquisition by deaf children and adults. Poster presentation with a highlight talk at the 3rd International Conference on Sign Language Acquisition (ICSLA2018), İstanbul / Turkey.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2018). Delayed Sign Language Acquisition: How Does It Impact Spatial Language Use? Talk at Sign Pop Up Meetings, Radboud University / The Netherlands.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2018). Delayed Sign Language Acquisition: How Does It Impact Spatial Language Use? Talk at the Center for Language Colloquium Series, Radboud University / The Netherlands.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2018). Effects of delayed language exposure on acquisition of static spatial relations. Poster presentation at Nijmegen Lectures, Radboud University / The Netherlands.
  • Manhardt, F., Brouwer, S., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2018). Iconicity matters: Signers and speakers view spatial relations differently prior to linguistic production. Talk presented at the seventh meeting of the Formal and Experimental Advances in Sign language Theory (FEAST 2018), Venice / Italy.
  • Manhardt, F., Sümer, B., Brouwer, S., & Özyürek, A. (2018). Iconicity matters: Signers and speakers view spatial relations differently prior to linguistic production. Poster presented at the International Workshop on Language Production (IWLP 2018), Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
  • Sümer, B., Grabitz, C., & Küntay, A. (2017). Early produced signs are iconic: Evidence from Turkish Sign Language. Poster presentation with a highlight talk at Many Paths to Language Workshop, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics / The Netherlands.
  • Sümer, B., Grabitz, C., & Küntay, A. (2017). Early produced signs are iconic: Evidence from Turkish Sign Language. Poster presentation at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, London / The UK.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2017). Effects of delayed language exposure on acquisition of static spatial relations. Poster presentation at Donders Poster Session, Radboud University / The Netherlands.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2017). Effects of Delayed Sign Language Exposure on Spatial Language Acquisition. Talk at the Spatial Language and Spatial Cognition Workshop, Trondheim / Norway.
  • Karadöller, D. Z., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2017). Effects of delayed language exposure on acquisition of static spatial relations. Poster presentation at the workshop on Event Representations in Brain Language and Development, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics / The Netherlands.
  • Karadöller, Z. D., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2017). Effects of delayed language exposure on spatial language acquisition by signing children and adults. Poster presentation at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, London / The UK.
  • Manhardt, F., Brouwer, S., Sümer, B. & Özyürek, A. (2017). Iconicity of Linguistic Expressions Influences Visual Attention to Space: A Comparison Between Signers and Speakers. Poster presentation at Donders Poster Session, Radboud University / The Netherlands.
  • Manhardt, F., Brouwer, S., Sümer, B., Karadöller, D., Z. & Özyürek, A. (2017). The Influence of Iconic Linguistic Expressions on Spatial Event Cognition Across Signers and Speakers: An Eye- Tracking Study. Talk presented at IFG 2017, Nijmegen / The Netherlands.
  • Manhardt, F., Brouwer, S., Sümer, B., Karadöller, Z. D., & Özyürek, A. (2017). The influence of iconic linguistic expressions on spatial event cognition across signers and speakers: An eye-tracking study. Poster presentation at Formal and Experimental Advances in Sign Language Theory (FEAST), Rejkjavik / Iceland.
  • Manhardt, F., Brouwer, S., Sümer, B. & Özyürek, A. (2017). Iconicity of Linguistic Expressions Influences Visual Attention to Space: A Comparison Between Signers and Speakers. Talk at the EvRep Workshop, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics / The Netherlands.
  • Taşçı, S., Eker, S., & Sümer, B. (2017). Comparison of iconicity judgements by deaf signers and hearing non-signers. Poster presentation at Formal and Experimental Advances in Sign Language Theory (FEAST), Rejkjavik / Iceland.
  • Manhardt, F., Brouwer, S., Sümer, B., Karadöller, Z. D., & Özyürek, A. (2017). The influence of iconic linguistic expressions on spatial event cognition across signers and speakers: An eye-tracking study. Poster presentation at Workshop on “Types of iconicity in language use, development and processing”, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics / The Netherlands.
  • Karadöller, Z. D., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2016). Effect of language modality on development of spatial cognition and memory. Poster presentation at the Summer School 2016 “Human language: From genes and brain to behaviour”, Radboud University / The Netherlands.
  • Sümer, B., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2015). Viewpoint preferences’ in signing children’s spatial descriptions. Talk presented at BUCLD 40, Boston / The USA.
  • Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., & Özyürek, A. (2015). Hands in motion: Learning to express motion events in a sign and a spoken language. Talk at the 2nd International Conference on Sign Language Acquisition (ICSLA), Amsterdam / The Netherlands.
  • Sümer, B., Perniss, P. M., Zwitserlood, I., & Özyürek, A. (2015). Learning to encode viewpoint– dependent spatial relations in a sign language: Does the body matter? Poster presentation at the 2nd International Conference on Sign Language Acquisition (ICSLA), Amsterdam / The Netherlands.
  • Ortega, G., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2015). Type of iconicity matters: Bias for action-based signs in sign language acquisition. Poster presentation at the 2nd International Conference on Sign Language Acquisition (ICSLA), Amsterdam / The Netherlands.
  • Sümer, B., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2014). Learning to express “Left-Right” and “Front-Behind” in a sign versus spoken language. Talk presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, Quebec City / Canada.
  • Sümer, B., Perniss, P. M., Zwitserlood, I., & Özyürek, A. (2014). Encoding “Left-Right” & Front- Behind” in Turkish and Turkish Sign Language. Poster presentation at 13th International Congress for the Study of Child Language (IASCL), Amsterdam / The Netherlands.
  • Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2014). The role of visual modality in development of encoding spatial relations: A comparison of sign, speech, and co-speech gesture. Talk presented at the 6th Conference of the International Society for Gesture Studies, San Diego / The U.S.A.
  • Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2014). Do the hands have the upper hand? Learning to express space by deaf children acquiring sign language. Talk presented at the Centre for Languages (CLS) Colloquium, Radboud University / The Netherlands.
  • Zwitserlood, I., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2014). Multiple routes to children’s mastery of classifiers in Turkish Sign Language. Poster presentation at the 13th International Congress for the Study of Child Language (IASCL), Amsterdam / The Netherlands.
  • Ortega, G., Sümer, B. & Özyürek, A. (2014). Bias for action over perceptual features in sign language learning: Evidence from Turkish Sign Language (TİD). Talk presented at the 13th International Congress for the Study of Child Language (IASCL), Amsterdam / The Netherlands.
  • Ortega, G., Sümer, B. & Özyürek, A. (2014). Type of iconicity matters: Bias for action-based signs in sign language acquisition. Talk presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, Quebec City / Canada.
  • Ortega, G., Zwitserlood, I., Sümer, B. & Özyürek, A. (2014). Preference for action over perceptual sign variants by children and caregivers during sign language acquisition. Talk presented at the 6th Conference of the International Society for Gesture Studies, San Diego / The U.S.A.
  • Zwitserlood, I., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2013). Hands on the table – spatial lexemes in Turkish Sign Language (TİD). Talk presented at Morfologiedagen [Morphology Days], Leeuwarden / The Netherlands.
  • Zwitserlood, I., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2013). Multiple routes to children’s mastery of classifiers in spatial language: the case of Turkish Sign Language (TİD)” Lunch talk presentation, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics / The Netherlands.
  • Ortega, G., Zwitserlood, I., Sümer, B., & Özyürek, A. (2013). Bias for action over shape in learning sign-referent links: Evidence from Turkish Sign Language (TID). Poster presentation at BUCLD 38, Boston / The USA.
  • Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2013). Revisiting modality effects in children’s acquisition of spatial language: Insights from Turkish and Turkish Sign Language. Talk presented at Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research (TISLR) Conference 11, London / The UK.
  • Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2012). Development of locative expressions in Turkish and Turkish Sign Language: Are there modality effects? Talk presented at International Society for Gesture Studies (ISGS 5), Lund / Sweden.
  • Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2012). Acquisition of spatial language by Deaf and hearing children: Are there modality effects? Lunch Talk, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics / The Netherlands.
  • Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2011). Development of locative expressions by Turkish Deaf and hearing children: Are there modality effects? Poster presentation at BUCLD36, Boston / The USA.
  • Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2011). The expression of spatial relations and their acquisition in Turkish Sign Language by native Deaf children and adults. Talk presented at Sign5 International Conference for Sign Language Users, Ankara / Turkey.
  • Sümer, B., Zwitserlood, I., Perniss, P. M., & Özyürek, A. (2011). The expression of spatial relations in Turkish Sign Language by native Deaf children and adults. Talk presented at Current Issues in Sign Language, Deafness, & Cognition (CISLDC), London /The UK.

SUBSIDIARY & ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES

2025 – present

Coordinator of the ACLC Research Group “Multimodal and Embodied Language Development” (MELD), University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands (in collaboration with Dr. Ileana Grama, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands

2024 – present

Confidential Advisor, Faculty of Humanities, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands

2021 – present

Chair of the Program Committee, Linguistics programme, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands

2020 – 2021 

Member of the Program Committee, Linguistics programme, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands

2020 – present       

Tutor, Linguistics, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands

2018 – present       

Tutor, Sign Language Linguistics program, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands

2018 (October) – present  

Editorial board member, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

2017 – present       

Section editor (Sign Linguistics), Open Linguistics

2017 – present       

Ad-hoc reviewer for Language, Applied Psycholinguistics, First

Language, Language Dynamics and Change, Open Linguistics, Proceedings for the Annual Meeting of Cognitive Science Society, Dutch Journal of Applied Linguistics, Poznan Studies

PUBLIC OUTREACH & VALORIZATION ACTIVITIES

2021  

Involvement in the preparation of promotional videos and public lectures for Sign Language Linguistics and Linguistics programmes

2017 – present       

Chair of Advisory Board for the project “Elfeneri”, which aims to

develop the first research-based cartoon series in Turkish Sign Language (TİD) to be broadcasted on the Turkish National Channel (TRT), İstanbul / Turkey

2017 – present       

Member of Scientific Board, Accessible Information Technologies Society, İstanbul / Turkey

2013 – present                 

Vice Chair of Scientific Board for the project to set up the first preschool education program in sign language for the Deaf children in Turkey (in collaboration with Royal Kentalis, The Netherlands and the Association for Child Education, Turkey)

2018            

Main organizer, “3rd International Conference on Sign Language Acquisition (ICSLA)”, Koç University, İstanbul / Turkey

2015            

Co-organizer, “2nd International Conference on Sign Language Acquisition”, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam / The Netherlands

2015            

Main organizer, international workshop “Recent Advances on Sign Language Acquisition Research”, Nijmegen / The Netherlands