She received an MA (1961) and PhD (1965) from the University of Michigan and taught linguistics and German at Bryn Mawr College from 1965 to 1989, and also taught at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Kiel.
She held degrees from the University of Michigan (MA in 1961 and PhD in 1965) and taught linguistics and German at Bryn Mawr College, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Kiel.