Linguistic anthropology studies the nature of human languages in the context of those cultures that developed them. Scholars in the field seek to understand the social and cultural foundations of language itself, while exploring how social and cultural formations are grounded in linguistic practices.

Linguistic anthropologists study the ways in which people negotiate, contest, and reproduce cultural forms and social relations through language. They examine the ways in which language provides insights into the nature and evolution of culture and human society.

Areas of research

Our faculty interests include linguistic theory and its application to the analysis of Native American languages in both North America and Latin America. Their research includes consideration of verbal art, semiotic anthropology, and the way language figures into intergenerational debates. They study language documentation, preservation, and education, looking at endangered languages, multilingualism, digital media, and the movement of language through domains of daily practice.