* Linguist: This is the most general term for someone who studies language. Linguists can specialize in various areas, such as phonetics, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and sociolinguistics.
* Philologist: This term is often used for someone who studies the history and development of language, including literature and textual analysis.
* Etymologist: This term refers to someone who studies the origins and historical development of words.
* Lexicographer: This term refers to someone who compiles dictionaries.
* Language teacher: This term refers to someone who teaches a language to others.
The best term to use depends on the specific context. If you are talking about someone who studies language in general, "linguist" is the most appropriate term. If you are talking about someone who studies the history and development of language, "philologist" may be a better choice.