Daniel Jackson: Academic Credentials And Skills

Dr. Daniel Jackson

Academic Credentials

Dr. Jackson's academic record brought him to the attention of Catherine Langford, thereby setting the course of his future with the Stargate program, which wouldn't even have gotten off the ground without him, (Stargate the Movie, Children of the Gods). But his unorthodox theories have also been the source of great embarrassment for him.

While it is certain that Daniel has two doctorates, one obtained from UCLA and one from the prestigious University of Chicago's Oriental Institute, confusion abounds over exactly which fields of study. In the Stargate Movie, MGM credited Daniel with being an Egyptologist and in the series credit him with doctorates in linguistics and anthropology. Daniel has never referred to himself as an anthropologist or linguist, but only ever as a Doctor of Archaeology (3.07 "Deadman Switch"). He has also made reference to spending half his life studying the written word (3.10 "Forever In A Day"). While one of his doctorates is most likely in archaeology, he may well have others in such fields as linguistics,anthropology (1.03 "Emancipation") and possibly geology (3.17 "A Hundred Days"). This particular issue has never been clarified in canon.

Archaeology

His mentor, Dr. David Jordan, considered Daniel his most brilliant student (4.14 "The Curse"), but after Daniel's disgrace at a lecture on "The Old Kingdom and the IV Dynasty", Daniel distanced himself from the academic world and devoted himself wholeheartedly to the pursuit of knowledge via the Stargate program. He has not published any papers since that time, as his work became classified.

During his dissertation, Dr. Robert Rothman was his research assistant (3.10 "Forever in a Day"). While working with Dr. Jordan, his associates were Dr. Stephen Raynor and Dr. Sarah Gardner, who was briefly his girlfriend (4.14 "The Curse"). Rayner exhibited jealousy of Daniel's academic prowess and did his utmost to steal an important discovery from him when proof of Daniel's outlandish theories was found. Sarah Gardner openly expressed her admiration of Daniel's brilliance, admitting to reading everything he'd ever published when the two met (7.15 "Chimera").

Linguistics

He has exhibited some in-depth knowledge of the latter two subjects, and while the full extent of languages in his skill set is not known, he has admitted to speaking 23 languages which are known to include:

English, Ancient Babylonian -- which he also reads in cuneiform (5.08 "The Tomb", 1.13 "Fire and Water"), Linear 'A' - which Teal'c claimed was an obscure Goa'uld dialect (1.09 "Brief Candle"), Phoenician (4.13 "Serpent's Venom"), Norse Runes (2.06 "Thor's Chariot"), Aztec (3.05 "Learning Curve", 3.21 "Crystal Skull"), Middle English (3.08 "Demons"), Welsh, (5.10 "2001"), Ancient Egyptian/Abydonian/Goa'uld including being able to read Hieroglyphs and write apology letters in Goa'uld (Stargate the Movie, 1.01 "Children of the Gods", 1.14 "Hathor", 1.20 "There But for the Grace of God", 2.17 "Serpent's Song", 3.03 "Fair Game", 3.04 "Legacy", 3.10 "Forever in a Day", 4.04 "Crossroads", 4.12 "Tangent", 4.14 "The Curse", 4.17 "Absolute Power", 4.18 "The Light", 5.01 "Enemies", 5.02 "Threshold", 5.06 "Rite of Passage", 5.15, 5.16, "Summit Part 1", "Last Stand Part 2", 5.18 "The Warrior", 5.21 "Meridian", 7.01 "Fallen Part 1", 7.02 "Homecoming Part 2").

He also has demonstrated a familiarity with German (2.21 "1969") and Russian (5.08 "The Tomb", 8.03 "Lockdown", 8.14 "Full Alert"). He speaks Spanish, since he had participated in a dig in the Yucatan Peninsula and related well with the natives there (1.08 "Brief Candle"). He communicated quite effectively in Spanish with the natives during his expedition to Honduras with Dr. Lee and recognized the writing in the ruins to be Ancient Mayan (7.11 "Evolution Part 1").

He is also learning to communicate with the Unas (4.08 "the First Ones", 5.07 "Beast of Burden", 7.07 "Enemy Mine"). He may also be making some impressive inroads on understanding the language and culture of the Gadmeer. We don't know for sure if Lotan kept his promise to supply Daniel with any relevant cultural material he wanted but as they seem to have parted on very good terms it's reasonable to assume he received something of the Gadmeer to study (4.09 "Scorched Earth").

His grandfather, Nicholas Ballard, is Dutch, and this language may also be included (4.02 "The Other Side") on the list as conjecture.

The Ancients' Language

While at the time not fluent in Latin, he had a working knowledge of the language that allowed him to interpret for Col. O'Neill while Jack was under the influence of the Ancients' database. Their knowledge had been downloaded into his brain, and was slowly re-writing it to think in and understand their language, which bore many similarities to medieval Latin (2.15 "The Fifth Race").

Dr. Jackson consequently became fluent in the Ancients' dialect, as he has been called upon many times to translate items left behind by the Ancients, such as a time altering device (4.06 "Window of Opportunity").

His increased understanding of the language of the Ancients since his ascension became invaluable in advancing the efforts of the SGC to counter the growing threat of Anubis and to continue their search for the Ancients' Lost City (6.22 "Full Circle", 7.01 "Fallen Part 1"). His understanding was strained when he tried to decipher the coded location of the Lost City under Osiris' urging (7.15 "Chimera"), though he used his skills again when Jack once again took the Ancients download (7.21 "The Lost City Part 1", 7.22 "The Lost City Part 2").

His knowledge was critical to understanding the time travel and flight capabilities of the Puddle Jumper as well (8.13 "It's Good To Be King", 8.19 "Moebius Part 1"). His notes on the language were used by Carter and Jacob/Selmak to decode the entrance into the chamber housing the Ancients' weapon that would destroy all the replicators (8.17 "Reckoning Part 2").

Midwifery

Among Daniel's other skills is midwifery. While on a dig in the Yucatan, he delivered a baby. That knowledge came in handy during a visit to Argos (P3X-8596) when SG-1 encountered a young woman in the throes of labor. Daniel delivered the child, which was consequently named after him (1.08 "Brief Candle"). The next opportunity he had to practice this skill was an emotionally devastating experience, as the child he was bringing into the world was the offspring of the host of Apophis and of his own wife, Sha're (2.09 "Secrets").

Music

Daniel has a piano in his apartment, and although we have never seen him play it, during the effort to break through the force field protecting the malfunctioning Sentinel device, he demonstrated an affinity for and familiarity with music that suggests he not only has an 'ear' for it but some musical training as well (5.20 "The Sentinel"). He also has a very nice singing voice (3.16 "Urgo").

Biography Articles

• Daniel Jackson Biography Home And Links
• The Stargate Movie
• Academic Credentials And Skills
• Characteristics And Motivations
• Family And Relationships
• Civilian Consultant To The U.S. Air Force
• Injuries Received
• Expressions
• Favorites
• Hobbies
• Key Episodes in Daniel's Character Arc