Mission and Diversity Statements

Department of Linguistics

Mission Statement

The Department of Linguistics at Purdue University aims to advance the understanding of the human language capacity in its social, cognitive, and historical dimensions, through excellent undergraduate teaching, comprehensive graduate training, and innovative faculty and student research spanning the major linguistic subfields. We embrace an interdisciplinary approach to the scientific study of language structure, language acquisition, bilingualism, and language use. In doing so, we employ a variety of theoretical perspectives and methodological tools in our research, and we provide a diverse range of perspectives and experiences for our students to explore.

We recognize that a diverse learning environment is not limited to diverse theories and methods, but must also be inclusive and  welcoming to all. Thus, we are committed to diversity and inclusion in all its forms. This commitment is apparent in our teaching, in our interactions with students and colleagues, and in our research and community outreach activities, especially as related to the language varieties of immigrants, indigenous communities, Deaf communities, and other underrepresented groups.

Diversity Statement

The Department of Linguistics at Purdue University is guided by a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and to addressing barriers based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender, language background, and socioeconomic status. We strive to actively eliminate these barriers through our pedagogical practices, through our interactions with colleagues, students, language communities, and the public, and through our dedication to maintaining and promoting minority language varieties, including heritage languages, sign languages, and indigenous languages.