Linguistics Major
What is Linguistics?
Linguistics is the scientific study
of the nature, structure, grammar, history and function
of language. It treats language as a fundamental human
capacity and as a changing social institution. Linguistics
contributes to and prepares students for professional
fields such as law, because it uses a variety of rigorous
methodologies for the analysis of language. It also supports
law through the voice-print evidence assessment, the interpretation
of the statutes and contracts. It clarifies ambiguities
and presuppositions in the statutes and contracts and
in testimony. Linguistics is a highly theoretical discipline,
similar to and drawing from philosophy, computing and
artificial intelligence, anthropology, and cognitive psychology.
It is not a means to speak many languages.
Linguistics considers questions such
as: How are the speech sounds of language produced? What
are the building blocks of language? How does language
change over time? What do various languages have in common?
How are they different? How do children acquire language?
How does reasoning and inference underlie human communication?
Linguistics majors often go on for advanced
degrees in fields such as Anthropology, Business, Communications,
Computer Science, Education (Language Arts and Language
teaching), Journalism, Neurosciences (for the study of,
e.g., dyslexia and aphasia), Speech and Hearing Sciences,
Philosophy, and Psychology.
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What Kinds of Students Major in
Linguistics?
Linguistics majors are intrigued by
the study of one’s own and of foreign languages.
Beyond simply learning how to speak a language, linguistics
majors are interested in language as an object of study.
This is a highly technical field in which mathematics,
computing, psychology and sociology play significant roles.
Linguistics integrates knowledge from many disciplines
beyond those mentioned.
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What Courses Do Linguistics Majors
Take?
The required and elective courses you
would take for majors vary considerably among institutions.
Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth
of topics you are likely to experience were you to major
in this field.
| American Sign Language |
Semantics and Phonetics |
Language and Culture |
| Philosophy of Language |
Grammar and Syntax |
Theory of Linguistics |
| Linguistic Analysis |
Structure of Western Languages |
Computational Linguistics |
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What Types of Positions do Linguistics
Majors Take After College?
These professions and professional organizations
illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for
if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly
related to employment than others, however. You should
consider the likelihood of employment after graduation
carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work
in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work
in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you
should determine what the prospects are for this or any
major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by
the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment
in second major or in a minor. Positions for graduates
in Linguistics are not readily available, so students
in this field often go on for graduate work in order to
hold professional positions.
| English Teacher |
Teacher of English as
a Second Language |
Community College Instructor |
| Technical Writer |
Research Analyst |
Intelligence Specialist |
| Editor |
Foreign Service |
|
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Related Links
If you are interested in learning more
about what professionals in this field do and what kinds
of activities they engage in, check out some of the following
links. You might also want to check out web sites for
University or College departments offering this major.
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University Departments to Consider
The following institutions are the featured
institutions on MyMajors because they support MyMajors
and you in your search for the best major available. They
offer excellent curriculums in well-rounded programs for
you to consider.
| For information on options
available to campuses wishing to see their majors
listed on MyMajors, contact: admin@mymajors.com for details. |
Other fine institutions offering this
major offer excellent programs to consider.
| For information on options
available to campuses wishing to see their majors
listed on MyMajors, contact: admin@mymajors.com for details. |
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Two-Year College Curriculums to
Consider
| Suggest to your two-year
college advisor that their institution's majors
be included to show you their course requirements
and unique resources. Two-year college representatives
should contact admin@mymajors.com for details. |
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Want
More Information? Look at major descriptions prepared
by university academic advisement staffs.
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