Noam Chomsky studies language.
Linguistics is the scientific study of language , and involves an analysis of language form , language meaning , and language in context . Avram Noam Chomsky ( [ æ ` vrɑːm _ ` noʊm_ˈtʃɒmski ] ; born December 7 , 1928 ) is an American linguist , philosopher , cognitive scientist , historian , social critic , and political activist . At the age of sixteen he began studies at the University of Pennsylvania , taking courses in linguistics , mathematics , and philosophy . He is credited as the creator or co-creator of the universal grammar theory , the generative grammar theory , the Chomsky hierarchy , and the minimalist program .