What is Linguistics?

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. Linguists investigate how language works; how patterns of sounds, words and sentences combine to convey meaning. Language is fundamental to nearly every aspect of human experience: how we communicate, our sense of identity, how we interact socially, how we think. Linguists explore all these areas and more. They study everyday language use, how it varies and changes geographically, socially and across time, and how children acquire language.

 

Even when they investigate specific languages, linguists are often trying to shed light on language in general. Some investigate how people acquire their knowledge about language and what this tells us about how the mind works. Many linguists investigate how languages vary across speakers, social groups and geographic regions, and some are involved in the documentation and maintenance of endangered languages. Some make computational models of speech and language based on collections of spoken and written language.

 

Do you enjoy…

• Exploring and learning other languages and dialects?
• Working out patterns from evidence?
• Learning about the human mind?
• Thinking about how individuals and societies interact?

 

Linguistics: The course for you?

Linguistics often appeals to students who are curious about language as one of the most fascinating aspects of human knowledge and behaviour. Perhaps you are interested in accents, dialects, or slang, or you are a good learner of languages, or you are intrigued by how language changes over time, or you wonder how humans manage to learn and produce language. Linguistics is also appealing to those who enjoy detailed, problem-solving analysis and careful argumentation. Students of Linguistics engage in evidence-based analysis of language, acquiring skills and techniques that allow investigation of different aspects of language structure such as sound, words and grammar. This involves key transferable skills in problem solving and critical thinking.