Dennis Baron

Dennis Baron is a Research Professor of English and Linguistics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and the Department of English. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1971), M.A. from Columbia University (1968), and B.A. from Brandeis University (1965).

His research focuses on intersections of language and law, language and technology, and gender pronouns. Notable works include You Can't Always Say What You Want (2023), What's Your Pronoun? (2020), and A Better Pencil (2009). He has contributed to debates on free speech, the Second Amendment, linguistic policy, and digital literacy.

Baron has received prestigious awards including the Guggenheim Fellowship, NEH Fellowship, and Fulbright Fellowship. His work bridges academia and public discourse, appearing in outlets like the New York Times and NPR.

His research also explores the history of communication technologies, legal linguistics, and the sociopolitical dimensions of language use. He actively engages with contemporary issues like singular 'they' adoption, language legislation, and the digital revolution's impact on reading/writing practices.