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William Labov

American linguist (1927-2024) · United States · Writers · Died at 97

William Labov is read about 118 times a day, in 32 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 18 September 2026

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William David Labov was an American linguist widely regarded as the founder of the discipline of variationist sociolinguistics.

A life in dates

2024Died17 December 20242015Neil and Saras Smith Medal for LinguisticsAward2013Benjamin Franklin MedalAward2006Honorary Doctorate of Paris Nanterre UniversityAward1927Born4 December 1927

Also in Deutsch

Awards

Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics2015

Benjamin Franklin Medal2013

Honorary Doctorate of Paris Nanterre University2006

Guggenheim Fellowship

Fellow of the Cognitive Science Society

Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Honorary Doctorate of Pompeu Fabra University

Honorary Doctor of the University of Uppsala

Honorary doctor of the University of Liège

In their orbit 2

Spouse Gillian Sankoff

Spouse Teresa Gnasso Labov

About this person

William David Labov was an American linguist widely regarded as the founder of the discipline of variationist sociolinguistics. He has been described as "an enormously original and influential figure who has created much of the methodology" of sociolinguistics, and "one of the most influential linguists of the 20th and 21st centuries".

Country

United States

In common with William

Noam ChomskyBoth received Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics Bernard ComrieBoth received Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics John LyonsBoth received Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics

Barbara ParteeBoth received Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics

Writers from the United States 2

Philip Hamilton54.5

Caroline Ingalls54.5

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