Department of Linguistics

Linguistics is the scientific study of language.

Language is an important part of what makes us human -- it allows us to express the complexities of evolution and beauty and astrophysics with ease. How is it acquired in infancy, or learned as a second language, or how can it be processed by computers? To answer these and other important questions, linguists study the formal properties of language, how it evolves, and how it is used in social situations. 

Simon Fraser University has one of the largest and most diverse linguistics programs in Canada. We offer a wide range of courses about language at the undergraduate level, as well as graduate work leading to MA and PhD degrees. Research in linguistics at SFU is characterized by interdisciplinarity, breadth in research methodology, and diversity in theoretical perspective.