Salikoko S. Mufwene

Salikoko S. Mufwene is the Edward Carson Waller Distinguished Service Professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago. He holds additional appointments on the Committees on Evolutionary Biology, Conceptual and Historical Studies of Science, and African Studies. His research integrates ecological perspectives into evolutionary linguistics, focusing on language contact, creole genesis, language endangerment, and the impact of colonization and globalization on linguistic diversity.

• Education: PhD in Linguistics, University of Chicago (1979)
• Key Themes: Language evolution, creole languages, population structure, decolonial linguistics, language policy

Mufwene’s work emphasizes the role of population dynamics in language change, drawing parallels with biological evolution. His recent articles examine topics such as the cultural-artifact nature of language, the ecological drivers of creole hybridization, and the decolonization of linguistic paradigms. He has also contributed extensively to debates on language endangerment and multilingualism in super-diverse societies.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow, Linguistic Society of America (2018)
• Fellow, American Philosophical Society (2022)
• Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023)
• Collège de France lectures (2003, 2023-24)
• Summer Institute of the Linguistic Society of America (1999, 2005, 2015, 2017)