A linguist is a person who studies language, its structure and development. They may focus on one or more specific languages, examining their grammar, syntax, phonetics, vocabulary, and cultural context. Linguists often work in academia as researchers or professors, but they can also be found working in industries such as language translation, software development, and education. Their goal is to better understand how languages function and evolve over time, with the aim of improving communication and preserving endangered languages.