Lucien van Beek
Assistant professor
- Name
- Dr. L.C. van Beek
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2224
- l.c.van.beek@hum.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0001-7287-0476
Lucien van Beek is a University Lecturer at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics. His research focuses on Ancient Greek and Indo-European linguistics (morphology, lexicography, etymology), with a focus on the oldest sources of Greek (Homer, Mycenaean). He conducted the VENI project Unraveling Homer's Language (2016-2019) on the artificial nature of the language of Greek epic, and assisted in Beekes’ Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Brill, 2010). He is also project manager and a main editor of the Greek/Dutch dictionary (directed by I. Sluiter). He currently investigates the prehistory of conceptual metaphors for communication with a LUF Praesidium Libertatis grant for the project 'Winged Words' (2023-2025).
More information about Lucien van Beek
News
Fields of interest
Comparative Indo-European linguistics
Ancient Greek Philology and Linguistics (especially Homer)
Ancient Greek Lexicography
Research
I am currently investigating the role of conceptual metaphors in the lexicon of early Indo-European languages in the project 'Gevleugelde Woorden' (Winged Words) funded by a LUF Praesidium Libertatis grant (2023-2025). Besides, I am the project manager and one of the main editors of the Greek/Dutch dictionary project directed by Prof. I. Sluiter.
Generally speaking, I am interested in Greek, Latin and Indo-European historical linguistics, in particular in morphology, semantics and etymology. In my NWO-funded VENI project ‘Unraveling Homer’s Language’, I have studied the mechanisms of language change in the early Greek epic tradition.
Teaching Activities
I regularly teach the following courses, mainly in the Linguistics program, but also in Classics:
Ancient Greek for Linguists 1 and 2
Historical Grammar of Greek
Indo-European Morphology: Noun
Morphology / Morfologie
Grieks Taalkunde
The Mycenaean World: Language
Historical Grammar of Latin
Curriculum vitae
| 2018-pres. | University Lecturer, LUCL |
| 2015-pres. | Project Manager, Ancient Greek-Dutch Dictionary Project (Leiden University) |
| 2016-2019 | Post-Doctoral Researcher (NWO-funded VENI project 'Unraveling Homer’s Language', Leiden University) |
| 2015 | Lecturer and Post-Doctoral researcher (Radboud University) |
| 2014-2015 | Guest Professor (Ghent University) |
| 2012-2015 | Lecturer and Post-Doctoral researcher (Leiden University) |
| 2007-2013 | PhD (with distinction) in Comparative Indo-European Linguistics (Leiden University), funded by NWO Toptalent |
| 2004-2007 | MA (with distinction) in Comparative Indo-European Linguistics (Leiden University) |
| 1996-2004 | MSc in Mathematics; Propaedeutic exam in Slavic Languages and Cultures; Propaedeutic exam in Philosophy (Leiden University) |
Key publications
- L. van Beek, The development of the Proto-Indo-European syllabic liquids in Greek. PhD dissertation. Leiden, 2013.
- R.S.P. Beekes, with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series). Leiden: Brill, 2010.
- L. van Beek, Homeric κρείων ‘lord’ and the Indo-European word for ‘head’. Indogermanische Forschungen 119 (2014), 96-121.
- L. van Beek, Struck with blood: The meaning and etymology of παλάσσω and its middle perfect πεπάλακτο. Mnemosyne 66 (2013), 541-565.
- L. van Beek, The “Saussure Effect” in Greek: a reinterpretation of the evidence. Journal of Indo-European Studies 39 (2011), 129-175.
- L. van Beek, Vowel assimilation in Greek: the evidence reconsidered. In: T. Krisch and Th. Lindner (eds.), Indogermanistik und Linguistik in Dialog. Akten der XIII. Fachtagung der Indogermanischen Gesellschaft vom 21. bis 27. September 2008 in Salzburg, pp. 49-58. Wiesbaden: Reichert, 2011.
Assistant professor
- Faculty of Humanities
- Leiden Univ Centre for Linguistics
- LUCL VIET
- Beek L.C. van (2022), Artificial Word-Formation in the Epic Tradition: θοῦρος ‘fierce’ and the Formula θούριδος ἀλκῆς, The Journal of Hellenic Studies 142: 255-273.
- Beek L.C. van (2022), The reflexes of syllabic liquids in Ancient Greek: linguistic prehistory of the Greek dialects and Homeric Kunstsprache. Leiden Studies in Indo-European no. 22. Leiden: Brill.
- Beek L.C. van (2021), Les adjectifs en -ερός, -αρός et -ηρός chez Homère et ultérieurement: origines et diffusion. Blanc A. & Boehm I. (Eds.), Dérivation nominale et innovations dans les langues indo-européennes anciennes. Actes du colloque international de l’université de Rouen (ÉRIAC) 11 October 2018 - 12 October 2018. Littérature & Linguistique no. 3. Lyon: MOM éditions (Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée). 161-182.
- Beek L.C. van (2020), Greek ἀΐδιος, μινυνθάδιος, ῥηΐδιος: etymology, phraseology, and labiovelar palatalization, Glotta : Zeitschrift fuer Griechische und Lateinische Sprache 96(1): 38-74.
- Beek L.C. van (2019), A Look into the Indo-European Bedroom: Vedic yóni- and Greek εὐνή, Historische Sprachforschung 132(1): 4-34.
- Beek L.C. van & Migliori L. (2019), Active versus middle perfect in Homeric Greek: synchrony and diachrony. In: Passa E. & Tribulato O. (Eds.), The paths of Greek: literature, linguistics and epigraphy: studies in honor of Albio Cesare Cassio. Trends in Classics - Supplementary Volumes no. 85. Berlin: De Gruyter. 71-106.
- Beek L.C. van (2019) The Greek Verb and its Indo-European Origins. Review of: Willi A. (2018), Origins of the Greek Verb. Cambridge: CUP. Classical Review 69(1): 1-3.
- Beek L.C. van (2018), Ἄτλας ἀστεμφής: traces of local particles in Greek compounds and the origins of intensive alpha, Glotta : Zeitschrift fuer Griechische und Lateinische Sprache 94(1): 38-81.
- Beek L.C. van (2018), Greek πέδιλον ‘sandal’ and the origin of the e-grade in PIE ‘foot’. In: Beek L.C. van, Kloekhorst A., Kroonen G.J., Peyrot M., Pronk T.C. & Vaan M.A.C. de (Eds.), Farnah: Indo-European and Indo-Iranian Studies in Honour of Sasha Lubotsky. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Beech Stave. 335-348.
- Beek L.C. van & Lugt J. van der (2018), Epische relevantie: achtergronden bij het gebruik van het augment in Homerus, Lampas. Tijdschrift voor classici 51(2): 93-112.
- Beek L. van, Kloekhorst A., Kroonen G., Peyrot M., Pronk T. & Vaan M. de (Eds.) (2018), Farnah. Indo-Iranian and Indo-European Studies in Honor of Sasha Lubotsky. Ann Arbor: Beech Stave.
- Beek L.C. van (2017), Greek βλάπτω and further evidence for a Proto-Greek voicing rule *-Ń̥T- > *-Ń̥D-. In: Sandgaard Hansen B.S., Hyllested A., Jørgensen A., Kroonen G., Larsson J., Nielsen Whitehead B., Olander T. & Mosbæk Søborg T. (Eds.), Usque ad radices: Indo-European studies in honour of Birgit Anette Olsen. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press. 55-72.
- Beek L.C. van (2017), Die Bildersprache des Rechts im Indogermanischen: Griechisch ἰθεῖα δίκη und δίκην βλάπτειν. In: Bichlmeier H. & Opfermann A. (Eds.), Das Menschenbild bei den Indogermanen. Hamburg: Baar-Verlag. 129-150.
- Beek L.C. van (2017), The etymology of Greek πέπαμαι. In: Sandgaard Hansen B.S., Nielsen Whitehead B., Olander T. & Olsen B.A. (Eds.), Etymology and the European Lexicon. Proceedings of the 14th Fachtagung der Indogermanischen Gesellschaft, 17–22 September 2012, Copenhagen. Wiesbaden: Reichert Verlag. 427-441.
- Beek L.C. van (2016), Review of: Barber P. (2013), Sievers’ Law and the History of Semivowel Syllabicity in Indo-European and Ancient Greek.. Oxford Classical Monographs. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Mnemosyne 69(1): 153-158.
- Beek L.C. van (2015), Review of: Duhoux Y. & Morpurgo Davies A. (2014), A Companion to Linear B. Mycenaean Greek Texts and their World, Volume 3.. Louvain-la-Neuve: Peeters. Journal of Indo-European Studies 43: 287-296.
- Beek L.C. van (2014), Homeric κρείων ‘lord’ and the Indo-European word for ‘head’, Indogermanische Forschungen 119: 96-121.
- Beek L.C. van (2014), Summary of Van Beek L.C. The Development of the Proto-Indo-European Syllabic Liquids in Greek (2013). [other].
- Beek L.C. van (2013), 'Struck (with Blood)': the Meaning and Etymology of Greek palássô and its middle perfect pepálakto, Mnemosyne 66: 541-565.
- Beek L.C. van (17 December 2013), The development of the Proto-Indo-European syllabic liquids in Greek (Dissertatie. Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL), Faculty of humanities, Leiden University). Supervisor(s): Lubotsky A.M.
- Beek L.C. van (2013), Vowel changes. In: Giannakis G. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics. Leiden: Brill.
- Beek L.C. van (2011), The “Saussure Effect” in Greek: a reinterpretation of the evidence, Journal of Indo-European Studies 39: 129-175.
- Beek L.C. van (2011), Vowel assimilation in Greek: the evidence reconsidered. Krisch T. & Lindner T. (Eds.), Indogermanistik und Linguistik in Dialog. Akten der XIII. Fachtagung der Indogermanischen Gesellschaft vom 21. bis 27. September 2008 in Salzburg. . Wiesbaden: Reichert Verlag. 49-58.