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Linguistics differs in studying languages from other fields such as English, French and so on, by concentrating on theoretical parts that are shared by all languages.
I wonder when was the first time that linguistics departments were established in major universities, i.e. what time linguistics was considered as a separate field from other individual languages. Were (most) linguistics departments set up in 1950s after Chomsky's work?
Oh, before Chomsky. I have a vague recollection that Leonard Bloomfield helped establish an early department with "linguistics" in its name, but I can't find that. However, note "linguistics" in the titles of some of his professorships, e.g. "Professor of German and Linguistics at the Ohio State University, 1921-1927" (Leonard Bloomfield).
I found it. In 1901 the first department of linguistics was established at the U. of California, History of Berkeley Linguistics.
Of course, there were linguistics departments before Chomsky all over the world.
Harvard U: 1941
St. Petersburg U (Russia): since 1932 known as the Department of General Linguistics; goes back to 1863, originally known as the Department of Indo-European Comparative Studies.
etc.
I think Ferdinand de Saussure started teaching general linguistics in Geneva circa 1892. Before that, he taught Gothic and Old German in Paris starting in 1881.
