Noam Chomsky is an influential American linguist and political activist. He was born in Philadelphia in 1928 to Jewish immigrants. Chomsky studied linguistics and philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania and MIT, where he currently teaches. Some of his major contributions to linguistics include the theory of generative grammar and the idea that humans are born with an innate capacity to learn language. Politically, Chomsky is a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy and capitalism.

1. NOAM CHOMSKY: NET/ LIBRARY QUEST
In pairs use the library facilities to find answers to the following questions:
1. Who is Noam Chomsky?
2. Where was he born?
3. What does the name ‘Noam’ mean in Hebrew? From which language does the
surname ‘Chomsky’ come from?
4. Who were Chomsky’s parents? What did they do for a living?
5. What languages did he speak at home?
6. What did Chomsky read at university? Which university (-ies) did he attend?
7. Where does Chomsky currently work?
8. List 3 useful websites/ encyclopaedia entries on Noam Chomsky.
9. List 3 important contributions to linguistics by N. Chomsky.
10. List 3 important contributions to psychology by N. Chomsky.
11. Which other scientific fields has Chomsky influenced?
12. Comment briefly on Chomsky’s political views, specifically what he thinks
about:
- terrorism?
- the US government?
- socialism?
- the mass media?
- intellectuals in America?
13. List 3 criticisms that have been made of Chomsky’s work.
14. List 3 of Chomsky’s major linguistic works.
15. List 3 of Chomsky’s latest political works.