Have languages always fascinated you and you dream of being a linguist? Read on to know about courses in linguistics!

Linguistics Courses

“Learn a new language and get a new soul” Languages have always been an eternal part of human existence. They are the tools we use to communicate with each other. A world without them would truly be hard to fathom, but would also make our life that much more uncomplicated. Imagine the world of the early man where even the profoundest of realizations was acknowledged with a barbaric grunt instead of the long sermonic jabber of the new world! The world has seen wars due to the misinterpretation of the spoken word, and in the more recent times it has led to gory murders and rape. The spoken word can take you to the heights of ecstasy and plunge into the depths of despair. As emotional debris pile up, long standing companionships fall apart due to “you said that to me once…”. As turbulent as the effects are of the spoken word, their study and very creation is a fascinating area of study. This study of the natural language is termed as linguistics. If you aspire to be an authority on language, then linguistics can be a fascinating course to take up. Here are a few courses that will give you a fair idea as to what the course is all about.
 
Courses In Linguistics
 
Eligibility
Bachelors, Masters as well diploma courses are available in linguistics. An aspirant of a course in linguistics should have completed his 10+2 from a recognized educational board. If the candidate has taken up arts as his/her elective at the undergraduate level, it would help that much more. However, candidates of other electives can also opt for the graduation in linguistics. A candidate should also have the inherent ability to pick up new languages and ideally must know at least 3 languages fluently. However, for the Masters course it is the essential that a candidate be Bachelors in linguistics. M.A (Mater of Arts) as well as M-Phil (Master in Philosophy) courses are available in linguistics.
 
Details Of The Course
In the Bachelor degree program, a candidate mainly deals with  the structure of language, its relationship to other systems of communication, the acquisition of first and second languages, language in its social context, the causes and effects of language change, and universal properties of language. Apart from this, they study the characteristics of human speech sounds, structure of words and how languages would change over a period of time. To sum it all up, a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics comprises of the following areas of study:
  • Phonetics
  • Phonology
  • Morphology
  • Language acquisition
  • Syntax
  • Semantics
  • Historical linguistics
After the Bachelors', most candidates take up the Masters in linguistics which comprises of the following specializations:
  • Introduction to transformational Generative Syntax
  • Aspects of linguistic behavior
  • Applied linguistics
  • Language and mind
Some of the common electives being offered are:
  • Intermediate syntax
  • Advanced syntax
  • Language Typology
  • Sociolinguistics
  • Linguistic Stylistics
  • Computational Linguistics
  • Developmental Psycholinguistics
The Masters program ends with the candidate taking up a research topic, and completing the course with a seminar on his/her area of interest.
 
Specialization
A candidate has a wide variety of specializations to choose from. He/she can choose a language of his/her choice like French, specializing in foundational theory of linguistics and its relation to the acquisition and use of French. Apart from that, a candidate can also specialize in linguistics for biblical translations; a hot favorite option in the recent years. Another very popular area of specialization is language documentation. These are mainly areas of research in case an aspirant is keen on a doctoral program. A specialization or a Phd any day adds more value to a regular Masters.
 
Career Prospects
A career in linguistics is an extremely lucrative option. Most candidates prefer a teaching position. However, if you do not see yourself as a teacher, then you can join medical facilities as a speech trainer or as a neuro linguist; who treat speech problems in children and adults. One can also be work as a speech trainer in call centers or the anthropological society of India. Medical transcription, advertising, journalism and corporate communication, these are some of the industries where a linguist can make a career for himself.
 
Some Of The Institutes Offering Courses In Linguistics
  • University Of Virginia, USA
  • University Of Maryland,USA
  • Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad, India
  • Advanced Diploma in Applied Linguistics ,University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
  • Aligarh Muslim University ,Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India


More in Career Options

Top