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Career Profiles

Linguistics

Introduction

What is the difference between a dialect and a language? Why do the terms mama, papa, nana, dada appear in the ‘baby talk’ of so many languages? Do women and men speak differently? What goes on in an individual’s mind when they make speech errors such as saying ‘tips of the slongue’ for ‘slip of the tongue’? The study of Linguistics offers answers to such questions and supplies the tools to explore the structure of language and how it is used, in a scientific way. If you have an interest in language and enjoy logical, analytical reasoning and debate, or if you are interested in what language tells us about people and society, then you will probably enjoy studying Linguistics. Linguistics graduates are interested in all kinds of fascinating issues. What are the problems and possibilities in getting computers to ‘understand’ speech? Which sounds do babies learn first? Can the Maori language survive? What are the implications for a country’s education system if there is no one language that is a first language for all its pupils? What can a person’s speech reveal about their social background?

Why Study Linguistics?

Speaking to graduates of linguistics the reason most typically given for studying Linguistics is that it is a fascinating, stimulating and useful subject that is very much about people. Linguistics complements many other areas of study like Education, Psychology, Social Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, Music, Philosophy, Business, and of course, Languages.

What Skills Does theStudy of Linguistics Teach?

The graduate of Linguistics hasskills and knowledge that may be used in many fields.

  • Research and Project Management Skills
    Graduates have skills in the collection, interpretation and presentation of raw data and data from other sources, including electronic databases. They are able to offer a well-researched, considered opinion on topics relatingto Linguistics and are able to debate issues in this and related fields with confidence. Projects completed during the degree encourage the development of project design, coordination and management, and evaluation and presentation skills.
  • Oral and Written Communication Skills
    Linguistics courses help to develop excellence in written communication. Students prepare critical reviews and present data in tables, graphs and reports. Graduates develop an exceptionally high degree of accuracy skills, attention to detail particularly with writing, sensitivity to the ways in which written and verbal information is communicated and the relationship between spoken and written language and an awareness of how gender, culture and other issues can and do affect language. Exceptional oral communication skills are developed through a number of strategies, for example, interviews with subjects where natural speech must be encouraged in order to understand the technicalities of spoken language. Students develop and practice interviewing skills, theyl earn how to structure an interview, how to establish rapport, as well as how to record and evaluate an interview through the use of linguistic tools and questionnaires.
  • Ethics, Tolerance and Interpersonal Skills
    The Linguistics graduate develops keen social and political awareness and the ability and willingness to behave in a way that demonstrates an understanding of politeness and cross-cultural, cross-language and cross-gender communications. They are also expected to accept others’ opinions, values and attitudes in a professional, objective way.

Download a complete copy of Career View on Linguistics below.

Career View on Linguistics is part of the Career View series produced by Career Development and Employmentat Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. While the booklet was originally developed for a New Zealand audience, we believe that graduates in Australia will also find the information within it relevant and useful.

Check out the excellent resources available on the Victoria University of Wellington's Careers homepage at www.vuw.ac.nz/st_services/careers .

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