Why linguistics is cool




















Click here to read a CNN article about jobs and linguistics. Skip to main content. Undergraduate Graduate. Graduate Students Post-Docs Alumni. Schedule a Language Exam. It includes the following subareas : phonetics the study of the production, acoustics and hearing of speech sounds phonology the patterning of sounds morphology the structure of words syntax the structure of sentences semantics meaning pragmatics language in context It also includes explorations into the nature of language variation i.

Many of our students pursue teaching in countries such as Russia or Japan. Receive a B. For example, translators of American Sign Language are in demand in many places in the U. For example, many new search engines work on the basis of natural languages. In recent years, the demand for people with such backgrounds has exploded, and linguists are in high demand. The websites below can provide you with hours of entertainment ….

Well, ok, maybe not. But they do have a ton of good information about all things linguistic. National Museum of Language promotes a better understanding of language and its role in history, contemporary affairs, and the future. World Wide Words engages in reliable and entertaining commentary on new words, word histories, and other curiosities of English. Linguistics programs may be organized around different aspects of the field.

For example, in addition to or instead of the above areas, a program might choose to focus on a particular language or group of languages; how language relates to historical, social, and cultural issues anthropological linguistics ; how language is taught in a classroom setting , or how students learn language applied linguistics ; or how linguistics is situated in the cognitive sciences.

Although linguistics programs in the United States may vary in their emphasis and their approach, they tend to have similar requirements. You will most likely be required to take an introductory course in linguistics, and to take one or more courses in the core theoretical areas of linguistics. You may also be required or encouraged to have proficiency in at least one language besides English in order to help you understand how languages vary and how your native language fits into the bigger picture and informs your judgments.

In addition, you may be encouraged to complement your linguistic studies with courses in related areas, such as cognitive psychology, cognitive science, philosophy, anthropology, computer science, or communication sciences.

You might choose to double major and make your linguistic work part of an interdisciplinary program of study. A secondary specialization in one of the areas just mentioned complements a linguistics major nicely, and can enhance your training and marketability.

Taking advantage of these opportunities allows you to be more well-rounded and better informed, and will open more doors for you after graduation. Students who major in linguistics acquire valuable intellectual skills, such as analytical reasoning, critical thinking, argumentation, and clarity of expression.

This means making insightful observations, formulating clear, testable hypotheses, generating predictions, making arguments and drawing conclusions, and communicating findings to a wider community. Linguistics majors are therefore well equipped for a variety of graduate-level and professional programs and careers. Some may require additional training or skills, but not all do.

MA and PhD programs in fields such as linguistics, cognitive science, psychology, computer science, anthropology, philosophy, communication sciences, education, English, cognitive neuroscience, and the study of particular language s. Work in industry: Training in linguistics can equip you to work on speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, user research, and computer-mediated language learning, among many other areas.

Work in education: People with a background in linguistics and education can develop materials for different populations, train teachers, design assessments, find effective ways to teach language-related topics in specific communities, or use the language of a community effectively in instruction. Many applied linguists are involved in teacher education and educational research. Many teaching positions abroad require only an undergraduate degree, but at least some specialized training in the subject will make you a much more effective teacher.

Linguistics can give you a valuable cross-language perspective. Work as a translator or interpreter: Skilled translators and interpreters are needed everywhere, from government to hospitals to courts of law.

For this line of work, a high level of proficiency in the relevant language s is necessary, and additional specialized training may be required. Teach a foreign language: Your students will benefit from your knowledge of language structure and your ability to make certain aspects of the language especially clear. You will need to be very proficient in the relevant language, and you may need additional training in language pedagogy. Work on language documentation or conduct fieldwork: Some agencies and institutes seek linguists to work with language consultants in order to document, analyze, and revitalize languages many of which are endangered.

Some organizations engage in language-related fieldwork, conducting language surveys, establishing literacy programs, and translating documents of cultural heritage.

Work in the publishing industry, as a technical writer, or as a journalist: The verbal skills that linguists develop are ideal for positions in editing, publishing, and writing.

Work for a testing agency: Linguists help prepare and evaluate standardized exams and conduct research on assessment issues. Work with dictionaries lexicography : The development of good dictionaries requires the help of qualified linguistic consultants.



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