Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky, who joined the University of Arizona faculty in fall 2017, is a Laureate Professor in the Department of Linguistics in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He is the Agnese Nelms Haury Chair in the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice. Dr. Chomsky is also Professor Emeritus at MIT.

Considered the founder of modern linguistics, Noam Chomsky is one of the most cited scholars in modern history. Chomsky is credited with revolutionizing the linguistics field by introducing the Chomsky hierarchy, generative grammar and the concept of a universal grammar, which underlies all human speech and is based in the innate structure of the mind/brain.

Chomsky has not only transformed the field of linguistics, his work has influenced fields such as cognitive science, philosophy, psychology, computer science, mathematics, childhood education, and anthropology.

Chomsky is also one of the most influential public intellectuals in the world and has written more than 100 books. An ardent free speech advocate, Chomsky is famous for his political commentary and has lectured widely on U.S. foreign policy, Mideast politics, democratic society, and war.

Chomsky has received numerous awards, including the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences, the Helmholtz Medal, the Ben Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science, and the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Humanities and Social Sciences.