Department of Linguistics - Northwestern University

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Linguistics at Northwestern

Language is a complex, species-specific system made up of several components (sound, sentence structure, and meaning). The study of linguistics gives us a unique window on the structure of the human mind and the mind's activity.

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Remembering Morris F. Goodman (1933-2025). Dr. Goodman was among the first faculty members in the Linguistics Department, which he joined only one year after its founding in 1965. He remained at Northwestern throughout his academic career until his retirement and is remembered for his contributions to Linguistics and African Studies. A memorial service for Dr. Goodman will be held February 20, 2025 in Wilmette. Further information about Dr. Goodman's life and accomplishments can be read in his obituary.