Michael Silverstein
Science Talent Search – 1962
About Michael Silverstein*
Longtime University of Chicago professor and linguist Michael Silverstein helped define the fields of sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology. He studied indigenous languages and the connections between human culture and language. Some of Silverstein’s most profound contributions were presented during his “Language in Culture” course, which he taught for 50 years. Silverstein was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 1982 and, in 2014, he received the Franz Boas Award for Exemplary Service to Anthropology, one of the field’s highest honors. Silverstein competed in the 1962 STS.
* = Deceased
Talking About Things
Silverstein recalls how he became interested in linguistics, anthropology and indigenous languages in this clip from the American Philosophical Society documentary series “Talking About Things.”
watch the Video
Silverstein was a dedicated and passionate teacher and said of his students, “Their interest, their engagement, is what keeps me interested in being a faculty member.”
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