Professor Claire Halpert teaching in a linguistics class

Institute of Linguistics

We explore the human capacity for language. We strive to expand understanding of this domain and to foster learning and research that applies this understanding to the betterment of speech communities.

Professor Brian Reese, teaching linguistics class

Undergraduate

Graduate

Recent News

Linguistics Classes for Summer 2023

LING 1701 and LING 3001 for Undergraduate Students and LING 5001 for Graduate Students. All courses are fully remote.

Popular linguist explains our everyday phrases

Raining cats and dogs, the green-eyed monster, as mad as a hatter. Anatoly Liberman, a linguist and professor of German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch, explains our everyday phrases.

Language Center & Institute of Linguistics Administrative Hub

The Language Center and the Institute of Linguistics are pleased to announce that the two units are forming an administrative hub for collaboration and resource sharing in…

Picture of Daniel Haataja speaking with a microphone

University of Minnesota renews partnership with University of Iceland

Daniel Haataja spent the 1988-89 academic year in Iceland as a Val Björnson exchange student, which he credits with inspiring his interest in languages. He went on to earn his…

Picture of Georgette McLeod, left, with Percy Henry and his wife, Mabel.

At 95, this community's last fluent Hän speaker hopes to pass on as much as he can

"We have to pick up and carry this language on because if it's gone, it's gone forever," said Mskwaankwad Rice, a Linguistics PhD student.