The Linguistic Society of America (LSA) sent Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe a letter last December detailing concerns about his proposal to eliminate the linguistics program. According to Joan Bybee, who was president of the society last year, Brandeis would no longer provide an introduction to an "important and developing field."A linguistics professor at the University of New Mexico, Bybee said that Brandeis is an important institution and that it would be unfortunate if the dean's proposal passed. She said the chair of the Brandeis' linguistics program, Prof. Ray Jackendoff, a former president of the society, is well-respected among his colleagues.

"Professor Jackendoff was elected president of the LSA for 2003," Bybee said. "That is about the highest honor there is in our field. Also note that his recent book was published by Oxford University Press. Again, you have to do really good work to get published there."

Jaffe said that he received the letter and forwarded a copy to the Faculty Review Committee (FRC), which was impaneled last semester by Provost Marty Krauss in conjunction with the Faculty Senate to review the dean's curriculum proposals.

"I received the letter, and did respond, thanking [Bybee] for her input, telling her that no decisions have been made, and that her input would be part of the process," Jaffe wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.

According to its Web site, the LSA aims for the "advancement of the scientific study of language." Composed of various committees to work toward this aim, Bybee said the society is concerned about the dean's proposal. While she does not believe the elimination of the linguistics major would damage the field's integrity, she said it would be a significant disservice to students and faculty here who apply language research to their studies.

Bybee said that Brandeis is also fortunate because another professor who offers courses in the program, Joan Maling, is director of the National Science Foundation's linguistics program and in that capacity decides who receives research grants in the field. Maling, also the undergraduate advising head for linguistics, is currently on leave from the University.

According to Bybee, Brandeis should continue to appreciate Jackendoff and Maling's knowledge and experience because if Jaffe's proposal is passed, both will not be replaced after they retire-which Jackendoff said he plans to do in about five years.

"They both have high stature in the field and what they are offering is, right now, very valuable to Brandeis," Bybee said of Jackendoff and Maling. "It's just not any two people that wouldn't be replaced, but two people who are very important to the study of linguistics."

Jaffe said he suggested in his report that the University consider phasing out the linguistics major when Jackendoff and Maling retire either together or separately. But he said linguistics courses would still be offered because they are needed for the education program and are of interest to students of languages and anthropology.

"At this time, I do not know how many courses this would be or who would teach them," Jaffe said. "This will require discussion both with the linguistics faculty, and also the [Undergraduate Curriculum Committee]."

It is possible that there may be enough courses to offer an interdepartmental minor in linguistics, Jaffe said, though this will not be certain until the administration knows which courses will continue to be offered if the major is eliminated.

Bybee's letter reads that linguistics here is "healthy," offering an introductory course with enrollment figures comparable to other introductory courses in the humanities and social sciences. There are presently 17 students majoring in the program, which the letter states is respectable for a university of Brandeis' size.

Since linguistics courses are cross-listed with education, psychology and philosophy, Bybee said it was important to include in the letter why the study of language is essential in academia.

"In the absence of linguistics, these disciplines will be weakened and students will lack part of the intellectual training they need to be competitive," the letter reads, also mentioning how linguistics is important to anthropology, neuroscience and cognitive science.

Jackendoff said that he tried to contact Jaffe in early December to schedule a meeting with him and Prof. Margie Lachman of the psychology department, where linguistics is housed, to discuss the "intellectual justification behind [his] proposal." According to Jackendoff, Jaffe said his secretary would get in touch with him and Lachman about an appointment, but he was not contacted until a few days into the new year.

At the Oct. 28, 2004 faculty meeting, during which Jaffe explained his curriculum proposals, Jackendoff said the dean mentioned he would contact the affected parties.

"I am not happy about that," Jackendoff said, referring to the dean's office not contacting him sooner for a meeting to discuss the proposal. A meeting between Jackendoff, Lachman and Jaffe was scheduled two weeks ago, but was cancelled after the recent snowstorms.

"I do not have any particular reason for not speaking with Professor Jackendoff sooner, except that a lot has been going on, and no decisions are being made until after the FRC makes its recommendations," Jaffe said.