Lorenzo Florian, Professor of Spanish

& Director of the Center for Latino Studies

Education:  B.A. – Languages and Music Education; M.A. – Education; Ph.D. Linguistics (Phonetics and Phonology)  Dissertation:  “The Phonology of Venezuelan Spanish: Consonant Weakening and Strengthening”  Director:  Ricardo Narvaez

Research interests: Has published widely in the area of Hispanic Linguistics and Sacred Music for the Latino Community. Has given presentations at conferences throughout Venezuela and the United States as well as in Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Italy, Portugal, Puerto Rico, etc.

 

New projects:  Research projects: El Léxico (a study of vocabulary variants between Hispanic countries; Refuerzo Consonántico (a phonological study of pre-tonic consonants in the sung text of Latino singers; La Familia de Dios (a recording of 12 songs for children.

I enjoy: traveling, playing piano/guitar,/flute/Venezuelan cuatro/singing, listening to Latin music (romantic, pop, salsa, merengue), dancing (merengue, paso doble, line dance, swing), teaching Portuguese.

Outreach:  Is a member of the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, board member of Casa del Abuelo in Venezuela, advisory board member of Casa de Jesús.

 

Little known facts: Has published over 17 recordings of his own Latin music including the styles of salsa, merengue, vallenato, rancercha (mariachi), samba, bossa nova, ska, joropo, gaita, etc. Have given concerts in Cuba 5 times. Shook hands with the pope. Has seen in person 5 Venezuelan presidents.

I like: pizza, chocolate. tuna steaks and foggy weather.

I don't like: queso de mano and traffic jams.

Send me an e-mail:  lflorian@northpark.edu