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
Assistant professor, 2021 – present
Department of Literary & Cultural Analysis and Linguistics, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands
Lecturer, 2018 – 2021
Department of Literary & Cultural Analysis and Linguistics, University of Amsterdam / The Netherlands
Postdoctoral researcher, 2015 – 2020
Multimodal Language and Cognition Lab, 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
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), 2021 – 2022
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, 2018
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), 2015 – 2017
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, 20122
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
Effects of late language exposure on the development of narrative skills: Insights from Turkish Sign Language (TİD)
2018
Revisiting the patterns of handshape in the acquisition of classifier constructions in Turkish Sign Language (TİD)
2021
Developing guidelines to adapt language test batteries for Sign Language of the Netherlands (NGT)
Sociolinguistic effects on the perception of loan words: Evidence from Dutch speakers
Growing up bilingually: A review of academic literature on raising a child with more than one language
2020
Quantitative and qualitative differences in classifier constructions between hearing proficient second language learners and deaf signers of Sign Language of the Netherlands
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.
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.
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
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