History of Noam Chomsky in Timeline

Noam Chomsky is a highly influential American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and political activist. He is renowned as the "father of modern linguistics" for his groundbreaking theories on universal grammar. Chomsky is also a prominent figure on the American left, known for his sharp critiques of U.S. foreign policy, capitalism, and the role of corporations and media in shaping political discourse. He has authored over 150 books on diverse topics, solidifying his place as one of the most cited living authors.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1913: William Chomsky Flees Russian Empire

In 1913, William Chomsky, Noam Chomsky's father, fled the Russian Empire to escape conscription.

December 7, 1928: Noam Chomsky Born

On December 7, 1928, Avram Noam Chomsky was born. He is known for his work in linguistics, political activism, and social criticism. He is a laureate professor of linguistics at the University of Arizona and an institute professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

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1938: Reading Homage to Catalonia

In 1938, Chomsky read Orwell's depiction of Barcelona's functioning anarchist society in Homage to Catalonia.

Homage to Catalonia

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1939: Fall of Barcelona

In 1939, Chomsky became absorbed in the story of the fall of Barcelona and suppression of the Spanish anarchosyndicalist movement.

1945: Began Studies at University of Pennsylvania

In 1945, at the age of 16, Chomsky began a general program of study at the University of Pennsylvania, where he explored philosophy, logic, and languages.

1947: Began Romantic Relationship with Carol Doris Schatz

In 1947, Chomsky began a romantic relationship with Carol Doris Schatz.

1947: Met Zellig Harris

In 1947, Chomsky first met Zellig Harris in a political circle, who introduced him to theoretical linguistics and convinced him to major in the subject. In 1947, Chomsky also began a romantic relationship with Carol Doris Schatz.

1947: Criticized UN Partition Plan for Palestine

In 1947, Chomsky said that the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was a bad decision, but he considered a two-state solution on equal terms.

1949: Marriage to Carol Doris Schatz

In 1949, Chomsky married Carol Doris Schatz.

1951: Society of Fellows at Harvard University

From 1951 to 1955, Chomsky was a member of the Society of Fellows at Harvard University, where he undertook research on what became his doctoral dissertation.

1951: Received MA from University of Pennsylvania

In 1951, Chomsky received his MA from the University of Pennsylvania. His thesis, "Morphophonemics of Modern Hebrew" was subsequently published as a book.

1952: First Academic Article Published

In 1952, Chomsky published his first academic article in The Journal of Symbolic Logic.

1953: Travel to Europe

In 1953, Chomsky and his wife took a Harvard travel grant to Europe.

1954: Presented Ideas at Lectures

In 1954, Chomsky presented his ideas at lectures at the University of Chicago and Yale University.

1955: Doctor of Philosophy degree

In 1955 Chomsky submitted a thesis setting out his ideas on transformational grammar and was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree for it.

1955: Doctorate and MIT Teaching

In 1955, Chomsky earned his doctorate after developing the theory of transformational grammar. In the same year, he began teaching at MIT.

1955: Assistant Professor at MIT

In 1955, Chomsky secured an assistant professor position at MIT.

1955: Chomsky's Dissertation

In 1955, Noam Chomsky's dissertation presented recent advancements in the analysis formulated by Zellig Harris, Chomsky's PhD supervisor, and Charles F. Hockett.

1957: Birth of daughter Aviva

In 1957, Aviva, the daughter of Noam Chomsky, was born.

1957: Publication of Syntactic Structures

In 1957, Chomsky emerged as a significant figure in linguistics with the publication of his landmark work, Syntactic Structures, which played a major role in remodeling the study of language.

1957: Associate Professor at MIT & Visiting Professor at Columbia University

In 1957, MIT promoted Chomsky to the position of associate professor. In the same year, The Chomskys had their first child, Aviva. He also published his first book on linguistics, Syntactic Structures.

1958: National Science Foundation Fellow & Visiting Professor at Columbia University

From 1958 to 1959 Chomsky was a National Science Foundation fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. In 1958, over the next year he was also a visiting professor at Columbia University.

1958: National Science Foundation Fellow

From 1958 to 1959, Chomsky was a National Science Foundation fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study.

1959: National Science Foundation Fellow

From 1958 to 1959 Chomsky was a National Science Foundation fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.

1960: Birth of daughter Diane

In 1960, Diane, the daughter of Noam Chomsky, was born.

1961: Received Tenure at MIT

In 1961, Chomsky received tenure and became a full professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at MIT.

1962: Joined protests against Vietnam War

In 1962, Chomsky started to publicly protest against the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, speaking at small gatherings in churches and homes.

1962: Plenary Speaker

In 1962, Chomsky was appointed plenary speaker at the Ninth International Congress of Linguists, held in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

1963: Consulted on Military Project

Between 1963 and 1965, Chomsky consulted on a military-sponsored project to teach computers to understand natural English commands from military generals.

1965: Consulted on Military Project

Between 1963 and 1965, Chomsky consulted on a military-sponsored project to teach computers to understand natural English commands from military generals.

1965: Publication of Aspects of the Theory of Syntax

In 1965, Chomsky continued to publish his linguistic ideas throughout the decade, including in Aspects of the Theory of Syntax.

1965: Relocation to Lexington

In 1965, the Chomskys relocated to the suburb of Lexington after living in the Allston area of Boston since Noam was made a Fellow at Harvard.

1966: Publication of Cartesian Linguistics

In 1966, Chomsky published Cartesian Linguistics: A Chapter in the History of Rationalist Thought. This work sparked criticism from historians and philosophers who disagreed with Chomsky's interpretations of classical sources and use of philosophical terminology.

1966: Publications and Lectures

In 1966, Chomsky published Topics in the Theory of Generative Grammar and Cartesian Linguistics: A Chapter in the History of Rationalist Thought. In 1966, Chomsky lectured at the University of California, Berkeley.

1967: Honorary Doctorate from the University of Chicago

In 1967, Chomsky received an honorary doctorate from the University of Chicago.

1967: Rising to National Attention

In 1967, Chomsky rose to national attention for his anti-war essay "The Responsibility of Intellectuals", as an outspoken opponent of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

1967: Published "The Responsibility of Intellectuals"

In 1967, Chomsky's critique of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, "The Responsibility of Intellectuals," debuted in The New York Review of Books, marking his emergence as a public dissident.

1967: Birth of son Harry

In 1967, Harry, the son of Noam Chomsky, was born.

1968: Questioned Student Protest Objectives

In 1968, Chomsky questioned the objectives of the student protests even though he regularly lectured student activist groups and ran undergraduate courses on politics at MIT independently.

1968: Publication of Language and Mind

In 1968, Chomsky's lectures at the University of California, Berkeley, were published as Language and Mind.

1969: John Locke Lectures

In 1969, Chomsky gave the John Locke Lectures.

1969: Support for Walt Rostow at MIT

In 1969, Chomsky threatened to protest publicly if MIT denied Walt Rostow, a major architect of the Vietnam War, a position at MIT.

1969: Published American Power and the New Mandarins

In 1969, Chomsky's first political book, "American Power and the New Mandarins", was published, collecting his essay "The Responsibility of Intellectuals" and other political articles.

1970: Publication of At War with Asia

In 1970, Chomsky published "At War with Asia", another of his political books, published by Pantheon Books.

1970: Honorary Doctorates from Loyola University Chicago and Swarthmore College

In 1970, Chomsky received honorary doctorates from Loyola University Chicago and Swarthmore College.

1970: Visited Southeast Asia

In 1970, Chomsky visited southeast Asia to lecture at Vietnam's Hanoi University of Science and Technology and toured war refugee camps in Laos.

1970: Named a Maker of the 20th Century

In 1970, the London Times named Chomsky one of the "makers of the twentieth century".

1971: Debate with Michel Foucault

In 1971, Chomsky debated French continental philosopher Michel Foucault, positioning Chomsky as a symbolic figurehead of analytic philosophy.

1971: Honorary Doctorate from Bard College

In 1971, Chomsky received an honorary doctorate from Bard College.

1971: Guggenheim Fellowship

In 1971, Noam Chomsky received a Guggenheim Fellowship.

1972: Published Studies on Semantics in Generative Grammar and Language and Mind

In 1972, Chomsky published "Studies on Semantics in Generative Grammar" and an enlarged edition of "Language and Mind".

1972: Honorary Doctorate from Delhi University

In 1972, Chomsky received an honorary doctorate from Delhi University.

1973: Helped lead a committee commemorating the War Resisters League

In 1973, Chomsky helped lead a committee commemorating the 50th anniversary of the War Resisters League.

1973: Publication of The Backroom Boys and For Reasons of State

In 1973, Chomsky published two more political books, "The Backroom Boys" and "For Reasons of State", both published by Pantheon Books.

1973: Honorary Doctorate from the University of Massachusetts

In 1973, Chomsky received an honorary doctorate from the University of Massachusetts.

1973: Counter-Revolutionary Violence Publication

In 1973, Chomsky, along with Edward S. Herman, wrote "Counter-Revolutionary Violence: Bloodbaths in Fact & Propaganda", criticizing U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia. The parent company of Warner Modular, the original publisher, disapproved of the book's contents and ordered all copies destroyed.

1974: Became a corresponding fellow of the British Academy

In 1974, Chomsky became a corresponding fellow of the British Academy.

1974: Publication of Peace in the Middle East?

In 1974, Chomsky published "Peace in the Middle East?", another of his political books, published by Pantheon Books.

1975: Publication of "The Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory"

In 1975 Chomsky's thesis was published as part of The Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory.

1975: Whidden Lectures

In 1975, Chomsky gave the Whidden Lectures.

1975: Published Reflections on Language

In 1975, Chomsky published "Reflections on Language".

1977: Huizinga Lecture

In 1977, Chomsky gave the Huizinga Lecture.

1979: Publication of The Political Economy of Human Rights

In 1979, South End Press published Chomsky and Herman's revised "Counter-Revolutionary Violence" as the two-volume "The Political Economy of Human Rights".

1980: Most Cited Author

From 1980, Chomsky became among the most cited authors. He was cited more than any other living scholar from 1980 to 1992 within the Arts and Humanities Citation Index.

1980: Faurisson Affair

In 1980, Chomsky defended Robert Faurisson's right to freedom of speech, leading to accusations of Holocaust denial and damaging his career, especially in France, after his plea for Faurisson's freedom of speech was published as the preface to Faurisson's book.

1983: Published The Fateful Triangle

In 1983, Chomsky published "The Fateful Triangle", arguing that the U.S. had continually used the Israeli–Palestinian conflict for its own ends.

1983: Criticism of Palestine Liberation Organization

In 1983, Chomsky's book, The Fateful Triangle, criticized the Palestine Liberation Organization for its "self-destructiveness" and "suicidal character," disapproving of its programs involving "armed struggle" and "erratic violence." He also criticized Arab governments. These views, considering his upbringing, sparked controversy.

1984: American Psychological Association Award

In 1984, Noam Chomsky received the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology.

1985: Traveled to Managua

In 1985, Chomsky traveled to Managua during the Nicaraguan Contra War to meet with workers' organizations and refugees, giving public lectures on politics and linguistics.

1987: NCTE George Orwell Award

In 1987, Noam Chomsky won the NCTE George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contribution to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language.

1987: Published On Power and Ideology: The Managua Lectures

In 1987, many of Chomsky's lectures from his trip to Managua were published as "On Power and Ideology: The Managua Lectures".

February 1988: Defense of Chomsky's Insights

In February 1988, Saul Landau wrote for The Washington Post that it is unhealthy that Chomsky's insights are excluded from policy debates, despite his relentless prose and rationalist anarchism.

1988: Published Manufacturing Consent

In 1988, Chomsky and Herman published "Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media", outlining their propaganda model for understanding mainstream media.

1988: Massey Lectures

In 1988, Chomsky gave the Massey Lectures.

1988: Visited Palestinian Territories

In 1988, Chomsky visited the Palestinian territories to witness the impact of Israeli occupation.

1988: Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences

In 1988, Noam Chomsky received the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences.

1988: Creation of Hamas Charter

In 1988, according to Chomsky, the charter of Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, was created "by a small group of people under siege, under attack".

1989: Published Necessary Illusions

In 1989, Chomsky published "Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies", in which he suggests citizens undertake intellectual self-defense against controlling media and elite culture.

1989: Support for John Deutch at MIT

In 1989, Chomsky supported John Deutch, then a Pentagon advisor, in his candidacy to become president of MIT. Later, when Deutch became head of the CIA, Chomsky vouched for his integrity.

1989: NCTE George Orwell Award

In 1989, Noam Chomsky won the NCTE George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contribution to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language for a second time.

1992: Manufacturing Consent Film Adaptation

In 1992, Chomsky and Herman's book "Manufacturing Consent" received a film adaptation.

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1992: Most Cited Author

Until 1992, Chomsky was cited more than any other living scholar from 1980 to 1992 within the Arts and Humanities Citation Index. His work was widely read across disciplines, leading to dueling camps of Chomskyan and non-Chomskyan linguistics.

1995: Visited Australia for East Timor cause

In 1995, Chomsky visited Australia to talk about East Timorese independence at the behest of the East Timorese Relief Association and the National Council for East Timorese Resistance.

1996: Helmholtz Medal

In 1996, Noam Chomsky received the Helmholtz Medal.

1996: Published Powers and Prospects

In 1996, the lectures Chomsky gave on East Timor were published as "Powers and Prospects".

1999: Benjamin Franklin Medal

In 1999, Noam Chomsky received the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Science.

1999: Criticism of International Force for East Timor

In 1999, after East Timor attained independence, Chomsky criticized the Australian-led International Force for East Timor, believing it was designed to secure Australian access to East Timor's oil and gas reserves.

2001: Gave the D.T. Lakdawala Memorial Lecture

In 2001, Chomsky gave the D.T. Lakdawala Memorial Lecture in New Delhi.

2001: Interviewed After September 11 Attacks

In 2001, Chomsky was widely interviewed after the September 11 attacks, arguing that the ensuing war on terror was a continuation of U.S. foreign policy.

2002: Retired from MIT

In 2002, Chomsky retired from MIT, but continued research and seminars as an emeritus.

2002: Visited Turkey for publisher's trial

In 2002, Chomsky visited Turkey to attend the trial of a publisher accused of treason for printing one of his books, insisting on being a co-defendant, and during that trip he visited Kurdish areas of Turkey, speaking in favor of Kurdish human rights.

2003: Attended World Social Forum in Brazil and India

In 2003, Chomsky attended the World Social Forum conferences in Brazil and India, as a supporter of the forum.

2003: Opposing the Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, Chomsky opposed the invasion of Iraq, continuing his vocal political activism after retiring from active teaching at MIT.

2003: Published Hegemony or Survival

In 2003, Chomsky published "Hegemony or Survival", critiquing the Iraq War and other aspects of the war on terror and articulating what he called the United States' "imperial grand strategy".

2003: Visited Cuba

In 2003, Chomsky visited Cuba at the invitation of the Latin American Association of Social Scientists.

2003: Release of "Pandemoniumfromamerica"

In 2003, actor Viggo Mortensen and avant-garde guitarist Buckethead dedicated their album "Pandemoniumfromamerica" to Chomsky.

2004: Carl-von-Ossietzky Prize

In 2004, Chomsky received the Carl-von-Ossietzky Prize from the city of Oldenburg, Germany, acknowledging his work as a political analyst and media critic.

2004: Accusations of Cherry-Picking Facts

In the 2004 book The Anti-Chomsky Reader, Peter Collier and David Horowitz accused Chomsky of cherry-picking facts to suit his theories. Horowitz also criticized Chomsky's anti-Americanism.

2005: World's Leading Public Intellectual

In 2005, Chomsky was voted the world's leading public intellectual in The 2005 Global Intellectuals Poll, jointly conducted by American magazine Foreign Policy and British magazine Prospect.

2005: Honorary Fellowship from University College Dublin

In 2005, Noam Chomsky received an honorary fellowship from the Literary and Historical Society of University College Dublin.

January 2006: Criticism of Financial Practices

In January 2006, Peter Schweizer criticized Chomsky for setting up an estate plan and protecting his intellectual property, as well as the high speaking fees he received, around $9,000–$12,000 per talk at that time, in a publication for the Hoover Institution.

2006: World's Foremost Hero

In 2006, New Statesman readers listed Chomsky among the world's foremost heroes.

2008: Death of Carol Chomsky

In 2008, Carol Doris (Schatz) Chomsky, Noam Chomsky's wife, passed away.

2008: Jeffrey Epstein's conviction

In 2008, Jeffrey Epstein was convicted. Chomsky befriended him after this conviction.

2008: President's Medal from the National University of Ireland, Galway

In 2008, Noam Chomsky received the President's Medal from the Literary and Debating Society of the National University of Ireland, Galway.

2009: Honorary Member of IAPTI

Since 2009, Noam Chomsky has been an honorary member of the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI).

2010: Denial of Entry to West Bank

In 2010, Chomsky was denied entry to the West Bank due to his criticisms of Israel. He was scheduled to lecture at Bir Zeit University and meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman later claimed it was a mistake.

2010: Erich Fromm Prize

In 2010, Noam Chomsky received the Erich Fromm Prize.

2011: Supported the Occupy Movement

In 2011, Chomsky supported the Occupy movement, speaking at encampments and publishing on the movement, which he called a reaction to a 30-year class war.

2011: US Peace Prize and Sydney Peace Prize

In 2011, the US Peace Memorial Foundation awarded Noam Chomsky the US Peace Prize for his anti-war activities over five decades. Furthermore, for his work in human rights, peace, and social criticism, he received the Sydney Peace Prize the same year.

2011: Awarded the US Peace Prize

In 2011, the US Peace Memorial Foundation awarded The US Peace Prize to Chomsky, for his antiwar activities over five decades.

September 2012: Criticism of Chomsky's Ideology

In September 2012, Nikolas Kozloff wrote for Al Jazeera that while Chomsky deserves credit for highlighting the misdeeds of the U.S. and its proxies, he has become an ideologue by avoiding controversy at all costs, such as significant discussion of Belarus or Latin America's authoritarian leaders.

2012: Honorary Doctorate from the International School for Advanced Studies

In 2012, Chomsky received an honorary doctorate from the International School for Advanced Studies.

2014: Marriage to Valeria Wasserman

In 2014, Chomsky married Valeria Wasserman, a translator for the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo.

2014: Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics

In 2014, Noam Chomsky received the British Academy's Neil and Saras Smith Medal for Linguistics.

2014: Comments on Hamas Charter

In a 2014 interview on Democracy Now!, Chomsky stated that the Hamas charter, which advocates for Israel's destruction, "means practically nothing." He compared it to the Likud party's electoral program, which he claimed explicitly denies the possibility of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River.

2015: Purchased a residence in São Paulo, Brazil

In 2015, Chomsky and his wife purchased a residence in São Paulo, Brazil, and began splitting their time between Brazil and the U.S.

2015: Purchase of home in Brazil

In 2015, Chomsky and his wife, Valeria Wasserman, purchased a home in Brazil, Wasserman's native country.

2015: Sretenje Order

In 2015, Noam Chomsky received the Sretenje Order for his work in human rights, peace, and social criticism.

2015: Release of Requiem for the American Dream

In 2015, the documentary "Requiem for the American Dream" was released, summarizing Chomsky's views on capitalism and economic inequality.

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2016: Epstein's invitation to Chomsky

In 2016, Epstein invited Chomsky and his wife, Valeria, to meet in either New York or the Caribbean. Chomsky expressed a desire to visit the Caribbean island.

2016: Criticism from President Erdoğan

In early 2016, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey publicly rebuked Chomsky after he signed an open letter condemning Erdoğan for anti-Kurdish repression and double standards on terrorism. Chomsky accused Erdoğan of hypocrisy, noting his support for al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate.

2017: Continued contact with Jeffrey Epstein

In 2017, Chomsky remained in contact with Jeffrey Epstein, who he befriended after Epstein's 2008 conviction.

2017: Taught at the University of Arizona

In 2017, Chomsky taught a short-term politics course at the University of Arizona and was later hired as the Agnese Nelms Haury Chair.

2017: Seán MacBride Peace Prize and Dorothy Eldridge Peacemaker Award

In 2017, Noam Chomsky received the Seán MacBride Peace Prize and the Dorothy Eldridge Peacemaker Award for his work in human rights, peace, and social criticism.

2019: Epstein's Reference to Chomsky's advice

In 2019, Epstein referenced advice he said Chomsky had given him on handling media scrutiny after his 2008 plea deal, suggesting that ignoring it was the best approach.

June 2023: Moved to Brazil Full-Time

In June 2023, Chomsky moved to Brazil full-time after suffering a stroke.

2023: Stroke and Hospitalization

In 2023, Chomsky suffered a massive stroke and was taken to a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, for recovery. He lost the ability to walk or communicate, casting doubt on his return to public life, though he continued to follow current events.

June 2024: Discharge from Hospital

In June 2024, Chomsky was discharged from the hospital to continue his recovery at home. The same month, he trended on social media due to false reports of his death, leading to premature obituaries.

November 2025: Convalescence in Brazil

As of November 2025, Chomsky was reportedly still convalescing in Brazil.

November 2025: Release of Emails Related to Jeffrey Epstein

In November 2025, emails related to Jeffrey Epstein released by the House Oversight Committee revealed that Chomsky befriended him after Epstein's 2008 conviction and stayed in touch with him at least through 2017. He described Epstein as a "highly valued friend and regular source of intellectual exchange and stimulation".

December 2025: Release of Photos with Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein

In December 2025, Congress released a photo of Chomsky with Steve Bannon from Epstein's estate and another showing him flying with Epstein in Epstein's private plane.

2026: Valeria Chomsky's Apology

In 2026, Valeria Chomsky wrote that Chomsky's relationship with Epstein was a "grave mistake" and apologized on Chomsky's behalf, saying it was "deeply disturbing" to realize they had engaged with someone who led a "hidden life of criminal, inhumane, and perverted acts."