What is Linguistics?

Unlike learning to speak a single language, linguistics explores how human language works, its sounds, structures, meanings, and the ways we use it across cultures and history. At Rochester, our department brings together approaches from cognitive science, computer science, philosophy, anthropology, and more to answer questions like:

  • How do children instinctively acquire language, and what happens when that process goes awry?
  • What does our brain actually do when it hears or produces speech?
  • How can new tools, from AI voice recognition to digital archives, help us preserve endangered languages?
  • In what ways does language shape identity, reflect power dynamics, and drive social change?

There are over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, yet at least 97% of them are used by less than 3% of the global population, and an estimated 50–90% could vanish by century’s end. Studying linguistics means joining the front line of discovery, preservation, and innovation.

Why It Matters

Language is the core of what makes us human. Through linguistics, students learn to:

  • Support learners: Understand how children and adults master language and how to help when they struggle.
  • Build better technology: Design more inclusive AI and voice assistants that work for everyone, not just a few dominant languages.
  • Preserve cultures: Digitize and archive under-studied languages before they disappear.
  • Foster equity: Explore how dialects and accents influence social inclusion.
  • Unlock the mind: Reveal how language reflects and shapes human thought.

How We Explore Language

Whether you dream of building the next generation of language technologies, supporting literacy and language rights worldwide, or simply diving into the rich tapestry of human communication, our program gives you the skills and the real-world experience you need to make an impact.

Fieldwork Abroad

Our faculty and students work with communities across the country and the world conducting research that’s built on reciprocity. We don’t just collect data and leave; we collaborate on language-preservation projects, support community education initiatives, and forge lasting relationships grounded in mutual respect.

Research Labs

Our department explores a wide range of linguistic subfields: from documenting endangered languages and studying how sounds are produced, to analyzing sentence structure and building computational models of meaning. These areas reflect our commitment to both theoretical depth and empirical research, spanning the intersections of language, cognition, society, and technology.

Computational Modeling

Leverage cutting-edge machine-learning techniques to simulate language learning, analyze large corpora, and develop inclusive AI tools, ensuring technology understands voices of all backgrounds.

Community Outreach

Our colloquium series brings leading scholars to campus, we present our work at regional and national conferences, and we host hands-on workshops, sparking conversations about language, culture, and communication across the university and beyond.

Contact Us

Get in Touch

For more information about the Department of Linguistics, our programs, our research, or our courses, send us an email.