Major and Minor in Linguistics

Enquiring Minds Want to Know:

  • How many languages are there in the world?
  • What is the difference between a language, a dialect, and an accent?
  • What is wrong and right in speech?
  • What do languages have in common and how do they differ?
  • How do languages emerge? How and why do they change?
  • What is the relationship between language and culture?
  • How are world events influenced by contact between groups that speak different languages?
  • How does language influence thinking or perceptions of the world?
  • How do children learn their first languages?
  • How do children and adult learn second languages?
  • How can I be a better teacher of English learners?

If these are real questions for you, consider a Major, Minor, or Double Major in Linguistics.

What is Linguistics Anyway?

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. There are two general sub-disciplines. Theoretical linguistics involves the systematic and analytical study of speech sounds, words, sentences, meaning, and discourse, and how they evolve over time. Applied linguistics involves the mental, social, cultural, and educational aspects of language. You DONfT need to be bilingual to become a linguist though being a bilingual will allow you to capitalize on your bilingual ability, giving you a head start.

Why Major or Minor in Linguistics?

Here is what students in linguistics do:

  • Learn about the beauty and complexity of language.
  • Study the basic mechanisms common to all languages (the domains of phonetics and phonology, morphology and syntax, and semantics and pragmatics) and the ways different languages embody these mechanisms.
  • Understand the social functions of language and the roles they play in culture.
  • Study language variation, including historical change, social and regional dialects.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the process of learning and understanding first and second languages and implications for schooling and educational policy.
  • Evaluate language research and policy critically.
  • Apply linguistics in community setting.
  • Develop proficiency in English and at least one or two other languages.

Should You Double Major?

Linguistics broadens your outlook on language. It adds an extra dimension to your studies and can be combined with a number of other disciplines since language can be approached from many different points of view. Linguistics is a valuable second major for students in Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Communication Studies, Modern Languages, English, Computer Science, Political Science, Journalism, Social Work, Health and Human Services, Philosophy, Education, (Liberal Studies), and many more!

Employment Opportunities

A B.A. in Linguistics has a lot of practical applications and prepares students for careers in multiple areas including Teaching English (and other languages such as Chinese, Korean, Japanese, or Spanish) as a Second Language (a specialty in demand both in the U.S. and overseas), Forensic Linguistics, Speech Writing, Technical Writing, Editing, Translating and Interpreting, Publishing, Journalism, Speech Pathology, Audiology, and Computer Science.