Alumni

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Some of the most important changes taking place in linguistics today are a deepening understanding of human cognitive abilities, stronger reliance on models of natural language in computer science, and better awareness of the place of language in matters of social justice and equality. Michigan's Linguistics Department is committed to integrating these multiple approaches to linguistic inquiry. We are committed as well to an undergraduate curriculum centered on making the results of research in these areas accessible while at the same time providing students with opportunities for hands-on experience conducting and presenting their own original research projects. Our graduate program attracts the very best students applying to linguistics graduate programs; it is through our graduate students that we are able to link linguistics as it is practiced today to the linguistics of the future.

Over the years, your generosity has supported many of our research and teaching endeavors. Your continued generosity is extraordinarily important if we are to create and take advantage of new opportunities, and to provide key resources to students and faculty. As but one example, we are currently further developing our internship program, which links promising undergraduates with leaders in industry, education, and the non-profit sector. A gift to the Department's Strategic Opportunities Gift Fund would help us move forward with this and other exciting initiatives.

We welcome opportunities to share with you the ways in which Michigan Linguistics is growing and evolving. Many of you receive our annual Newsletter; if others of you wish to be added to our mailing list, please send us a message (linguistics@umich.edu) indicating your current mailing address. Our most recent Newsletter celebrates an important milestone: in Winter 2006, the number of Linguistics concentrators reached 100 students.

We welcome as well your news! Each year a number of you write messages or letters, or drop by when you're in town, and we always enjoy hearing from you. If you're interested in updating us with your current information, please contact me (beddor@umich.edu), our Alumni Liaison Officer John Lawler (jlawler@umich.edu), or our staff (linguistics@umich.edu). Or call us at 734-764-0353.

On behalf of my colleagues and our students and staff, I thank you for your continued interest in Michigan Linguistics.

Best wishes,
Pam Beddor
Professor and Chair