John M. Lawler, Associate Professor Emeritus of Linguistics
1942–2023
John M. Lawler, Associate Professor Emeritus of Linguistics and former Associate Professor in the Residential College at the University of Michigan, died Saturday, November 25, 2023, at the age of 81.
Professor Lawler earned his B.A. at St. Benedict’s College in 1964 and his M.A. from the University of Washington in 1967. He then attended the University of Michigan where he earned his Ph.D. in 1973. Professor Lawler joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as an assistant professor in 1973 and was promoted to associate professor in 1977, retiring in 2009. Professor Lawler identified himself as a general practitioner of linguistics. He studied the processes of metaphor in relation to lexicon and grammar. He was particularly curious about popular English grammar and embodied metaphors, and those underlying mathematics, computing, and epistemology. He also had interests in semantic problems of computer lexicography and user interface design, and Indonesian linguistics (particularly Malay and Acehnese). He was interested principally in undergraduate education and in making a permanent place for linguistics in primary and secondary schools.
Professor Lawler was a nationally and internationally recognized scholar of cognitive linguistics and was an early promoter of the use of computational tools for linguistic analysis. He was also a well-known expert in the study of metaphor. This research was published in a range of journal articles, chapters, and conference proceedings. He also co-edited a volume and authored several software applications as a demonstration of the possibilities of computational linguistics. He was awarded a Unanimous Resolution of Gratitude from the Linguistic Society of America in 1992 for his website, which included a widely referenced FAQ on linguistics.
Professor Lawler was a much-admired and inspiring instructor of undergraduates in the Department of Linguistics and the Residential College, where he encouraged students to think carefully about the power of words. He taught a variety of highly popular courses on metaphor, English grammar, and general linguistics. He received LSA's Excellence in Education award in 1991, 1992, and 1993, and served as the head undergraduate advisor in Linguistics from 1988–2001. Professor Lawler was integrally involved in steering the growth of computing within both his units and the college during the 1980s and early 1990s, and achieved national recognition in information technology through his contributions in this area to the Linguistic Society of America.
Professor Lawler is survived by his partner of twenty-five years, Kate Birr; his daughter Alexandra Lawler and grandson Hunter; his son Ian Lawler (Jennifer), and grandson Alexander; five siblings; and his former wife Sally Haines.
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The Excellence in Linguistics Undergraduate Education Fund was established with a generous gift from Dr. Eric L. Breck (B.S. Linguistics 1998), and his wife, Ms. Emily Breck. The Donors were inspired to make this gift in honor of Dr. John Lawler, who was Dr. Breck’s linguistics professor.
Donations can be made online at the page for the Fund (https://giving.umich.edu/um/w/excellence-in-linguistics-undergraduate-education-fund-703086), by checks mailed to UM Gift and Records (3003 S. State St., Suite 8000, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1288) with fund number 703086, or by phone at UM Giving (1-888-518-7888). Gifts will fund undergraduate student scholarships, internships/ experiential educational opportunities, the development of interdisciplinary curriculum, and other priorities in support of excellence in undergraduate education in the Linguistics Department.
