Reports circulating on social media and in various news outlets Tuesday regarding the death of renowned linguist and activist Noam Chomsky are false, according to his wife, Valeria Wasserman Chomsky.
In response to an emailed query from The Associated Press, she stated, “No, it is false.”
Chomsky, 95, has been hospitalised in Brazil, recovering from a stroke he suffered a year ago. Despite these challenges, he was discharged on Tuesday from Beneficência Portuguesa hospital in São Paulo to continue his treatment at home.
“He is continuing his recovery and treatment from home,” Valeria Chomsky confirmed.
The reports of Chomsky’s purported death quickly spread on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, leading to trending hashtags and premature obituaries.
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Jacobin and The New Statesman both published tributes to Chomsky, although Jacobin later amended its headline to “Let’s Celebrate Noam Chomsky,” while The New Statesman removed its piece by former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis altogether. Brazilian news site Diário do Centro do Mundo also retracted its story and issued a correction.
Valeria Chomsky, who transported her husband to Brazil in an ambulance jet accompanied by two nurses, confirmed that Chomsky has difficulty speaking and that the right side of his body is affected. He is under the care of a neurologist, speech therapist, and lung specialist, and remains engaged with current events.
“When he sees images of the war in Gaza, he raises his left arm in a gesture of lament and anger,” she shared with Folha de S.Paulo.
Noam Chomsky, a towering figure in both linguistics and activism, has had a profound influence on both fields.
Known for his critical stance on United States foreign policy, Chomsky taught for decades at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) before joining the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson in 2017.
He currently holds the titles of Laureate Professor of Linguistics and Agnese Helms Haury Chair.
Noam Chomsky revolutionised the study of linguistics with his seminal 1957 work, “Syntactic Structures,” where he introduced the idea that humans are born with an innate ability to understand and produce language. This concept has shaped the field of linguistics and continues to be a fundamental theory in the study of language.
Given his ongoing health challenges, Valeria Chomsky is considering relocating to an apartment near the beach in Rio de Janeiro, as research suggests that living in a sunny environment can benefit stroke recovery, according to AP.
Noam Chomsky’s influence as an activist and social critic extends globally, with his writings and speeches resonating with millions who value his unwavering commitment to challenging mainstream narratives and advocating for social justice. His legacy as a symbol of protest and independence remains undiminished, despite his recent health issues.
