Norvin Richards

Norvin Richards is the Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Linguistics at MIT, affiliated with the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy. His research focuses on syntax, endangered languages, and Austronesian languages such as Tagalog and Lardil. He co-teaches courses like 24.900 (Introduction to Linguistics) and actively participates in the MIT Indigenous Language Initiative (MITILI). Key achievements include authoring books like Contiguity Theory (2016) and receiving the Margaret MacVicar Faculty Fellow award. His work explores syntactic derivation, phonology-syntax interactions, and language reclamation projects like the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project.

Recent research emphasizes contiguity theory, wh-movement, and phase-based extraction constraints. Notable publications address ergative extraction bans, generalized earliness, and syntactic restructuring in endangered languages. Richards collaborates on projects involving Dinka, Maliseet, and Wampanoag, advancing theoretical linguistics while supporting language revitalization efforts. His contributions to syntax theory and language documentation underscore interdisciplinary connections between formal analysis and sociolinguistic imperatives.