Noam Chomsky
Born 1928 · Age 97
American linguist, cognitive scientist, philosopher, and political activist; major figure in modern linguistics and a leading public intellectual.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Avram Noam Chomsky born in East Oak Lane neighborhood to William Chomsky and Elsie Simonofsky, Ashkenazi Jewish immigrant parents.
First political article as a child
At age 10 wrote an article about the fall of Barcelona/Spanish Civil War — early sign of political interest.
Visits New York and discovers leftist/intellectual circles
From early teens traveled alone to NYC, frequented uncle's newsstand, read radical and anarchist literature shaping politics.
Entered University of Pennsylvania
Began undergraduate studies, exploring philosophy, logic, languages; funded studies by teaching Hebrew.
Met mentor Zellig S. Harris
Met linguist Zellig Harris in a political circle; Harris introduced Chomsky to theoretical linguistics and influenced his major.
Married Carol Doris Schatz
Married lifelong partner Carol Schatz (marriage lasted until her death in 2008); the couple later had three children.
Earned MA: 'Morphophonemics of Modern Hebrew'
Received an M.A. from University of Pennsylvania; master's thesis later published as a book.
Joined Harvard Society of Fellows
Junior Fellow at Harvard (1951–1955), did postgraduate research that led to his doctoral dissertation.
Published first academic article
Published first article in The Journal of Symbolic Logic.
Presented anti-behaviorist ideas at Chicago and Yale
Lectured at the University of Chicago and Yale, critiquing behaviorist approaches to language.
Awarded PhD (Transformational Analysis)
Submitted dissertation on transformational grammar and received Doctor of Philosophy from University of Pennsylvania.
Joined MIT faculty (assistant professor)
Appointed at MIT; split time between mechanical translation project and teaching linguistics and philosophy.
Worked on mechanical/machine translation project
Assigned half-time to MIT machine translation; Chomsky was skeptical about prospects but participated in project work.
Published Syntactic Structures
Released landmark book Syntactic Structures (1957), which reshaped modern linguistics and introduced transformational grammar.
Promoted to associate professor at MIT
Received promotion at MIT and was also a visiting professor at Columbia University around this period.
Birth of first child (Aviva)
The Chomskys' first child, Aviva, was born in 1957.
NSF Fellowship at Institute for Advanced Study
Served as a National Science Foundation fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study (1958–1959).
Published review of B.F. Skinner's Verbal Behavior
1959 review became a defining critique of behaviorist accounts of language and raised Chomsky to prominence beyond linguistics.
Granted tenure and became full professor at MIT
Received tenure and full professorship in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics.
Plenary speaker at Ninth International Congress of Linguists
Appointed plenary speaker at the Cambridge (Mass.) congress; established as a de facto spokesperson for American linguistics.
Consulted on military-sponsored natural language project (1963–1965)
Consulted on a project to teach computers to understand natural English commands from military generals.
Published Aspects of the Theory of Syntax
Major theoretical work 'Aspects' (1965) further developed generative grammar and language acquisition theory.
Published Topics and Cartesian Linguistics; Ferrari P. Ward Professorship
Published Topics in the Theory of Generative Grammar and Cartesian Linguistics; appointed Ferrari P. Ward Professor of Modern Languages and Linguistics (1966).
Published 'The Responsibility of Intellectuals'
Influential anti-Vietnam War essay in The New York Review of Books that brought him national attention as a dissident intellectual.
Arrested at March on the Pentagon teach-in
Participated in large anti-war demonstrations and was arrested; became more publicly associated with the New Left.
Published American Power and the New Mandarins
First collected political writings; marked broader publicization of his political critique of U.S. foreign policy.
Visited Southeast Asia and lectured in Hanoi
Visited Vietnam and Laos (1970), lectured at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, toured refugee camps.
Debate with Michel Foucault
High-profile 1971 debate with Foucault that positioned Chomsky as a leading figure in analytic philosophy and public intellectual discourse.
Guggenheim Fellowship awarded
Received a Guggenheim Fellowship (1971), recognizing scholarly achievement.
Elected to National Academy of Sciences (corresponding dates around 1972)
Became a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (listing commonly shown as 1972).
Co-authored Counter-Revolutionary Violence (original edition)
With Edward S. Herman wrote Counter-Revolutionary Violence: Bloodbaths in Fact & Propaganda (Warner Modular edition), later pulled by publisher.
Made corresponding fellow of the British Academy
Became a corresponding fellow of the British Academy in recognition of scholarly contribution.
Publication: The Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory (selected LSLT material)
Portions of his 1955 dissertation (LSLT) were published in 1975, making earlier work more broadly available.
Appointed Institute Professor at MIT
Elevated to the rank Institute Professor in recognition of broad scholarship (1976).
Revised Counter-Revolutionary Violence -> The Political Economy of Human Rights (1979)
South End Press published an expanded two-volume edition (1979) with Edward S. Herman comparing media coverage of Cambodia and East Timor.
Faurisson affair / free-speech controversy
Preface in defense of free-speech rights of Robert Faurisson appeared (without his knowledge) and provoked wide controversy and mischaracterizations.
Published The Fateful Triangle
Book arguing that the U.S. used the Israeli–Palestinian conflict for geopolitical ends.
APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Psychology
Received prestigious APA award recognizing formative contributions to cognitive science and psychology (1984).
Awarded Orwell Award
Received Orwell Award (one of multiple times listed: 1987 and again in 1989).
Published On Power and Ideology: The Managua Lectures
Collected lectures from 1985 Nicaragua trip published 1987 about U.S. policy and ideology.
Published Manufacturing Consent (with Edward S. Herman)
Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media (1988) articulated the influential propaganda model.
Received Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences
Awarded prestigious Kyoto Prize (1988) for foundational work in linguistics and cognitive science.
Published Necessary Illusions
Released Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies (1989), extending media criticism themes.
Manufacturing Consent film adaptation released
1992 documentary film 'Manufacturing Consent' popularized Chomsky and Herman's propaganda model to a wider audience.
Visited Australia to campaign for East Timor
Visited Australia at request of East Timorese groups; lectured and raised international awareness for independence cause.
Published Powers and Prospects
Collected lectures on East Timor and related topics published as Powers and Prospects (1996).
Received Helmholtz Medal
Recognized with Helmholtz Medal (1996) for contributions in cognitive science and linguistics.
Received Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science
Awarded Benjamin Franklin Medal (1999) for interdisciplinary impact on computer science and cognitive science.
D.T. Lakdawala Memorial Lecture (New Delhi)
Delivered the D.T. Lakdawala Memorial Lecture in New Delhi and was widely interviewed after 9/11 on U.S. foreign policy.
Retired from active teaching at MIT (Professor Emeritus)
Retired from MIT in 2002, becoming Institute Professor Emeritus; continued to research and lecture.
Turkey trial publicity and dropped charges
Visited Turkey to attend trial of a publisher; insisted on co-defendant status; Security Courts dropped treason charge on first day.
Attended World Social Forum (Brazil)
Attended World Social Forum in Brazil (2002); later attended in both Brazil and India (2003).
Published Hegemony or Survival
Hegemony or Survival (2003) critiqued U.S. 'imperial grand strategy', opposing the Iraq War and War on Terror policies.
Death of spouse Carol Chomsky
Carol Chomsky (his first wife since 1949) died in 2008 after a long marriage and three children.
Awarded Sydney Peace Prize
Received Sydney Peace Prize (2011) for work on human rights, peace, and political critique.
Supported Occupy movement
Spoke at Occupy encampments and publicly supported the movement as a response to rising inequality.
Married Valeria Wasserman
Married Brazilian translator Valeria Wasserman in 2014.
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation award
Received recognition from the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation in 2014 (listed among awards).
Requiem for the American Dream documentary
2015 documentary summarized Chomsky's views on wealth concentration and capitalism through a '75-minute teach-in'.
Purchased residence in São Paulo, Brazil
Bought a residence in São Paulo and began splitting time between Brazil and the U.S.
Taught short-term politics course at University of Arizona
Delivered short-term politics course; later appointed to Agnese Nelms Haury Chair supporting seminars and teaching.
Joined University of Arizona as Laureate Professor
Became laureate professor of linguistics and Agnese Nelms Haury Chair (part-time) at the University of Arizona (2017).
Recognized as among most-cited living authors
By this period Chomsky remained one of the most cited living authors, with over 100+ books authored.
Moved to Brazil full-time after stroke
Following the June 2023 stroke, Chomsky relocated to Brazil to live full-time and receive treatment/rehabilitation.
Suffered severe stroke
In June 2023 Chomsky suffered a severe stroke that greatly impaired his ability to speak and move.
Public reporting on recovery and care
Reports in 2024 indicated ongoing recovery, speech and mobility impairment, and specialized daily care in Brazil.
Continues to be prominent public intellectual
Remains influential in linguistics, philosophy, and political criticism; ongoing citations and post-retirement activity.
Key Achievement Ages
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