Editing Kenneth Lee Pike (section)

==Life==
Pike was born in [[Woodstock, Connecticut]], and studied [[theology]] at [[Gordon College (Massachusetts)|Gordon College]], graduating with a [[Bachelor's degree|B.A.]] in 1933. He initially wanted to do [[missionary]] work in [[China]]. When this was denied him,  he studied linguistics with the [[SIL International|Summer Institute of Linguistics]] (SIL). He went to [[Mexico]] with SIL, learning [[Mixtec]] from native speakers there in 1935.<ref>Hildebrandt, Martha. 2003. "A Portrait of Kenneth L. Pike," in Language and Life: Essays in Memory of Kenneth L. Pike. (eds.) Mary Ruth Wise, Thomas N. Headland, and Ruth M. Brend. Arlington: University of Texas at Arlington, pp. 3-5.</ref>

In 1937 Pike went to the [[University of Michigan]], where he worked for his [[doctorate]] in linguistics under [[Charles C. Fries]]. His research involved living among the Mixtecs and developing a written system for the Mixtec language with his wife, Evelyn. After receiving his Ph.D. in 1942, Pike became the First President of the Summer Institute in Linguistics. Its main function was to produce translations of the [[Bible]] in unwritten [[language]]s, and in 1951 Pike published the ''Mixtec New Testament''. He was the President of SIL International from 1942 to 1979.<ref>Hildebrandt, Martha. 2003. "A Portrait of Kenneth L. Pike," in Language and Life: Essays in Memory of Kenneth L. Pike. (eds.) Mary Ruth Wise, Thomas N. Headland, and Ruth M. Brend.  Arlington: University of Texas at Arlington, pp. 5-9.</ref>

As well as and in parallel with his role at SIL, Pike spent thirty years at the [[University of Michigan]], during which time he served as chairman of its linguistics department, professor of linguistics, and director of its English Language Institute (he did pioneering work in the field of [[English language learning and teaching]])
and was later Professor Emeritus of the university.