Linguistics Alumni Stories
Let’s check in with a few recent Mac Linguistics grads…
Ani Gribbin, ’24
What are you up to now?
I am a Systems Neuroscience PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University.
At Macalester, what was your favorite Linguistics course and what was it about?
Experimental Phonetics! It’s where I learned to read spectrograms and collect and analyze data.
What was your Capstone about?
My field methods paper covered vowel epenthesis in Mooré, a Gur language officially recognized by Burkina Faso.
What skills/knowledge did you gain through your Linguistics courses that have been helpful post-Macalester?
I found that writing linguistics-style reports and papers really served as a great basis for my scientific writing in my PhD. If you’re going to continue in academia after Mac, this is definitely a skill you can apply whether you stay in linguistics or not.
Is there a Ling “fun fact” that has stayed with you?
I still think about how people across the U.S. pronounce their “U’s”, fronting vs not fronting. I find myself listening for it all the time.
What is your advice for future Scots?
Be intentional about exploring different subjects outside of your major. I wouldn’t have found out about my love for linguistics if I hadn’t taken Sounds of the World’s Languages as my social science course.
Ajuawak Kapashesit, ’13
What are you up to now?
I am the Director of Development at 7000 Languages, a nonprofit that supports language revitalization efforts around the world. I also work in film and television as a writer, director, producer, and actor.
At Macalester, what was your favorite Linguistics course and what was it about?
I loved Linguistic Analysis where we as students were given pages of text in various languages we had no experience with and we’re tasked with finding out anything we could based on the texts given. It was a great utilization of all of the skills that we had learned leading up to that course. Everyday was a puzzle and I found it very enjoyable.
What was your Capstone about?
The Dakota language.
What skills/knowledge did you gain through your Linguistics courses that have been helpful post-Macalester?
Linguistics is a part of my creative work often. I used IPA on set for a major television show to work on a language that was unfamiliar to me. I also was able to employ analysis of accents as a part of my character work. In my work at a nonprofit, I interface with many communities speaking endangered languages regularly and am able to learn about their characteristics and appreciate their structure due to a deeper understanding of language through my degree.
Is there a Ling “fun fact” that has stayed with you?
It is possible to do the three trills simultaneously, but it is not very common that a person is capable of all of them.
What is your advice for future Scots?
Don’t worry so much if you’re on the right path or if you’ll have to make career/life adjustments later. Many of my friends from college have had winding career and life paths that take them towards many adventures before they pivot to new things. Keep moving forward, you’ll find your path as you go!
Amarah Friedman, ’24
What are you up to now?
I am currently a law student at the University of Michigan. After Mac, I earned an MA from Tel Aviv University in Conflict Resolution and Mediation.
At Macalester, what was your favorite Linguistics course and what was it about?
A research seminar on identifying sexual orientation based on how people sound.
What was your Capstone about?
A catalog of the Moore language.
What skills/knowledge did you gain through your Linguistics courses that have been helpful post-Macalester?
Learning the process of breaking down and solving patterns in words and sentences has been directly applicable to understanding case patterns and statutes in law school.
Is there a Ling “fun fact” that has stayed with you?
The “r” sound is incredibly diverse and made in a variety of interesting ways.
What is your advice for future Scots?
Linguistics is awesome! I didn’t realize how many skills from the program would be useful until I graduated. I use linguistics analysis tactics every day.
Mikey Tang, ’24
What are you up to now?
I recently completed my Masters in Second Temple Judaism at Yale Divinity School. Next, I’ll get my PhD at Notre Dame in the fall in the Theology department, where I will continue my research of early Judaism and ancient Jewish and Christian texts.
At Macalester, what was your favorite Linguistics course?
Phonetics!
What skills/knowledge did you gain through your Linguistics courses that have been helpful post-Macalester?
I do research in semitic philology and study ancient languages of the ancient Mediterranean, so my linguistic knowledge from Mac has been immensely helpful. My undergraduate studies in phonology and morphology proved to be especially helpful when I was learning Syriac and other Aramaic dialects at Yale. They gave me a linguist’s mindset which has been crucial in my graduate studies and research.
Is there a Ling “fun fact” that has stayed with you?
I’m still practicing my trills and ejectives.
What is your advice for future Scots?
The fourth floor of the library is the best place to study.