Career ProfilesCareer ProfilesLinguisticsIntroduction 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.
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 . |