Noam Chomsky took courses in linguistics.
Avram Noam Chomsky ( [ æ ` vrɑːm _ ` noʊm_ˈtʃɒmski ] ; born December 7 , 1928 ) is an American linguist , philosopher , cognitive scientist , historian , social critic , and political activist . Sometimes described as `` the father of modern linguistics '' , Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy and one of the founders of the field of cognitive science . At the age of sixteen he began studies at the University of Pennsylvania , taking courses in linguistics , mathematics , and philosophy . While expanding his work in linguistics over subsequent decades , he also became involved in the Linguistics Wars .