Origins & Early Life

William David Labov ( lə-BOHV; December 4, 1927 – December 17, 2024) was an American linguist widely regarded as the founder of the discipline of variationist sociolinguistics. He has been described as "an enormously original and influential figure who has created much of the methodology" of sociolinguistics, and "one of the most influential linguists of the 20th and 21st centuries". Labov was a professor in the linguistics department of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and pursued research in sociolinguistics, language change, and dialectology. He retired in 2015 but continued to publish research until his death in 2024.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Labov was born in Passaic, New Jersey, to Benjamin Labov, a Russian-Jewish immigrant, and Rhea (née White). According to Labov, the physician who delivered him was William Carlos Williams. He was raised in Rutherford, moving to Fort Lee at age 12. He attended Harvard University, where he majored in English and philosophy and studied chemistry. He graduated from Harvard in 1948.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After graduating from Harvard, Labov worked as an industrial chemist in his family's business (1949–1961) before turning to linguistics...

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• 1927 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1927
• December 4 (12-04) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 4
• 2024 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2024
• December 17 (12-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 17