A professional who studies structure and development of specific language or language group. Responsibilities include:

• Traces origin and evolution of words and syntax through comparative analysis of ancient parent languages and modern language groups, studying word and structural characteristics, such as morphology, semantics, phonology, accent, grammar, and literature.
• Identifies and classifies obscure languages, both ancient and modern, according to family and origin.
• Reconstructs and deciphers ancient languages from examples found in archeological remains of past civilizations.
• May specialize in study of origin, history, and development of words and be designated Etymologist.