Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) has officially inaugurated Prof. Dr. Sri Rejeki Urip, M.Hum., as Professor of Pragmatics at the Faculty of Languages and Arts (FBS) on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
The inauguration took place during an Open Academic Senate Session, marking another milestone in strengthening the university’s academic excellence and scholarly contributions in linguistics and language education.
In her inaugural address titled “An Integrative Conceptual Model: Song Lyrics as Linguistic Landscape and the Development of Learners’ Pragmatic Competence in French,” Prof. Urip emphasized the importance of pragmatic competence in foreign language learning, particularly in French.
Song Lyrics as a Linguistic Landscape
In her speech, Prof. Urip underlined that language learning should not focus solely on grammatical accuracy, but also on appropriateness in social and cultural contexts.
She noted that learners often produce grammatically correct sentences that may not be pragmatically appropriate in real-life communication. Therefore, the development of pragmatic competence is essential for meaningful and effective interaction.
As an innovative approach, she proposed an integrative conceptual model that utilizes French song lyrics as a symbolic linguistic landscape. According to her, song lyrics represent more than entertainment; they serve as cultural spaces embedded with meaning, social values, and authentic language use.
Through this approach, learners are encouraged to interpret implied meanings, understand contextual nuances, and develop intercultural communicative awareness.
A Strong Commitment to Linguistics and Pragmatics
Prof. Urip’s academic trajectory demonstrates a longstanding commitment to pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and French language pedagogy. Her research has focused on pragmatic competence, conversational implicatures, and innovations in context-based language teaching.
Her scholarly contributions further enhance UNNES’s research profile in linguistics and support the university’s responsiveness to global communication challenges and 21st-century education demands.
Strengthening UNNES’s Academic Reputation
UNNES Rector Prof. Dr. S. Martono, M.Si., stated that the inauguration of a new professor represents a strategic advancement for the university, both academically and institutionally.
“The appointment of a professor is not merely an individual achievement but also a reflection of institutional strength. The growth in professorial expertise contributes directly to the university’s Key Performance Indicators (IKU), particularly in research productivity, international publications, and academic impact,” he said.
He added that expanding the number of professors is also essential in reinforcing UNNES’s standing in global ranking systems such as the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, where research quality, citations, and academic reputation are key assessment components.
Meanwhile, Acting Dean of FBS UNNES Prof. Dr. Nur Qudus, M.T., IPM, highlighted that Prof. Urip’s expertise in pragmatics is highly relevant to contemporary global communication needs.
“Pragmatics plays a crucial role in shaping intercultural communicative competence. We expect Prof. Urip’s professorship to strengthen international research collaboration, enhance publication output, and elevate the global competitiveness of FBS,” he remarked.
According to him, the inauguration also serves as motivation for the academic community to continue innovating in research and teaching with measurable societal impact.
In closing her address, Prof. Urip expressed gratitude for the honor and reaffirmed her commitment to advancing pragmatic studies and contextualized language education.
The inauguration reaffirms UNNES’s commitment to fostering critical, innovative, and globally competitive scholarship that responds to contemporary societal needs.
