Dr. Benjamin Fortson

Biography

Benjamin Fortson is a Professor in the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Michigan where he specializes in Greek and Latin language, literature, and historical linguistics. He obtained his B.A. from Yale University in 1989 and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1996. His core teaching encompasses Latin language literature and Classical Civilization courses, including topics like Ancient Languages Scripts and Medical Terminology, in addition to Comparative Grammar. His research focuses on the comparative linguistic study of the Indo-European language family, particularly the Italic, Greek, Indo-Iranian, Anatolian, and Celtic branches. Fortson also explores comparative Indo-European metrics and poetics, and the cultural aspects of language change. He has extensive experience in lexicography, having worked as a Senior Lexicographer for the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Beech Stave Press. His published works include important contributions to Indo-European linguistics, with selected titles reflecting his insightful research into language culture, metrics, and historical linguistics.

Research Interests