Is linguistics for me?

College Majors
1

<p>I'm currently in my sophomore year as a Spanish major. I had always loved languages and figured I might as well major in one. I somehow stumbled upon information about linguistics about a year ago and it has interested me ever since, but not without a catch. </p>

<p>I bought quite a few Introduction to Linguistics books and I'm really into them.. except my eyes tend to glaze over at some parts. I don't know if it's the way the author writes or I'm just not really interested in certain parts of linguistics. I have already changed my major 3 times and I want this time to be my last :P . I really love learning things like the word "ustedes" comes from the archaeic Spanish word that means "your majesty." I am absolutely fascinated by this type of thing, yet when it comes to syntax and phonemes and such I tend to get bored fast (like I said, maybe it's just the specific book I'm reading.) </p>

<p>Would taking up a linguistics major with a focus on the history of language make sense for me? Or is there another major that would fit me that maybe I am missing? Also, would someone be so kind as to explain anthropological linguistics? It sounds interesting too and the book I'm on now hasn't touched upon it yet and I'm still only halfway through.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for reading this through and I appreciate any input!</p>

<p>Edit: I'm also interested in law and have thought about going to law school. I've heard linguistics majors often go into law, would I have a harder time on the LSATs if I had taken linguistics as opposed to pre-law or something similiar?</p>

2

<p>I've actually gone through this phase before and all I can say is that loving languages does not mean you'll love linguistics. If you are like me, who loves language as a form of the humanities, who loves languages for all its art and literature and cultural connotations, then you shouldn't like linguistics. Study linguistics if you want to learn more about the development of languages, how language is used among different social classes/ethnic groups, etc. Linguistics is a bit like economics; you study human behavior. Studying languages itself is also a study on human behavior of course, except that it's more philosophical and abstract.</p>

3

<p>
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I bought quite a few Introduction to Linguistics books and I'm really into them.. except my eyes tend to glaze over at some parts.

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<p>First, what is this book? Is it the Akmajian one? </p>

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I really love learning things like the word "ustedes" comes from the archaeic Spanish word that means "your majesty."

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<p>Me too -- I find etymology fascinating. (I'd also considered majoring in Spanish.)</p>

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Would taking up a linguistics major with a focus on the history of language make sense for me?

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<p>There are a few problems with this. First, even if you have a focus on the history of language, you still have to take all the classes of structuralist linguistics -- syntax, semantics, phonetics, phonology, etc. Second, your university probably offers few historical linguistics courses. Check out the course selection; there usually aren't enough of such courses to make much of a "focus." And third, even if your university did offer many courses on the histories of languages, you would still need all the elements of linguistics to understand it: diachronic linguistics examines languages as they change over time, and that is with respect not just to "words," but syntax, semantics, morphology, etc.</p>

<p>Remember, linguistics is the scientific study of language. It focuses not just on etymology, but on all the aspects of language, especially as they relate to other applied areas (the mind, computers, and so forth).</p>

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Also, would someone be so kind as to explain anthropological linguistics?

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<p>Anthro linguistics is one of those applied areas -- language as it relates especially to culture. The focus is less on culture and more on language, though. Contrast with linguistic anthropology, which studies cultures by their language use (and thus focuses less on language and more on culture).</p>

<p>Anthropological</a> linguistics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linguistic</a> anthropology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>

<p>I would recommend you look more into linguistics. If you don't have the Akmajian intro book, I would recommend you get that one -- I personally like it, but then again, linguistics is my passion, so it may seem boring to you. =) Check out the Wikipedia article on it -- it's very thorough:</p>

<p>Linguistics</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>

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would I have a harder time on the LSATs if I had taken linguistics as opposed to pre-law or something similiar?

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<p>Definitely not. Though I don't have any personal experience with the LSAT, I can say that linguistics will prepare you for it, as it tests the skills that are important to linguistics.</p>

<p>Food for thought: if I remember correctly, intended English majors have the highest average SAT scores; linguistics majors, the second highest. English majors often go to law school, and I think their (and linguistic majors') success is rooted in part in their success on the LSAT.</p>

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<p>Oh yes, forgot to mention, you may want to consider studying Latin.</p>

5

<p>"Food for thought: if I remember correctly, intended English majors have the highest average SAT scores; linguistics majors, the second highest. English majors often go to law school, and I think their (and linguistic majors') success is rooted in part in their success on the LSAT."</p>

<p>Hmmm.. I do know as a fact that GRE scores are highest for students intending to do PhDs in Philosophy. Classics shouldn't be too far behind</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
I've actually gone through this phase before and all I can say is that loving languages does not mean you'll love linguistics. If you are like me, who loves language as a form of the humanities, who loves languages for all its art and literature and cultural connotations, then you shouldn't like linguistics. Study linguistics if you want to learn more about the development of languages, how language is used among different social classes/ethnic groups, etc. Linguistics is a bit like economics; you study human behavior. Studying languages itself is also a study on human behavior of course, except that it's more philosophical and abstract.

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<p>While I agree with most of what you say, I have to add that linguistics is really not a whole lot about human behavior. Anthropological linguistics may be, but linguistics itself is concerned with the elements of language, though some sub-disciplines focus on the language as it relates to the mind and society. Like most fields, linguistics has a "theoretical" and an "applied" aspect. Much of linguistics focuses on the former; the latter includes some subjects that relate to human behavior (probably more so than economics). However, I would definitely say that linguistics is a social (and cognitive) science. The study of a specific language would fall under 'humanity,' but linguistics itself is a science.</p>

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<p>"Anthropological linguistics may be, but linguistics itself is concerned with the elements of language, though some sub-disciplines focus on the language as it relates to the mind and society."</p>

<p>But isn't there a lot of universal human behavior aspects behind the elements of language, for example, how this language on one end of the world can be so similar to that language on the other end? I don't know for sure though; all I know about linguistics is from wikipedia...</p>

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<p>By the way, gotta say I heart Wikipedia. Best invention ever. This concept of a global sharing pool of knowledge makes me cry every time I think about it.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
But isn't there a lot of universal human behavior aspects behind the elements of language, for example, how this language on one end of the world can be so similar to that language on the other end? I don't know for sure though; all I know about linguistics is from wikipedia...

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<p>True, comparative linguistics will delve into that. But even there, comparative linguistics draws heavily from theoretical linguistics. A solid foundation in theoretical is pertinent to an education in linguistics -- it's necessary to understand many of the applied fields, including comparative and other areas that intersect with human behavior. Some are wary of classifying it as a humanity or a social science -- many have said that linguistics is the hardest humanity or social science, but one of the easier "hard sciences." I think this is largely because of the proportion of theoretical and applied in the field: it's very theoretical, which is what makes it as rigorous as, say, math or computer science (two fields that have some overlap with linguistics), but the applied part--psychology, anthropology, etc.--is what gives it a "soft touch." Because of these difficulties of classification, some call it a cognitive science (which doesn't mean much, as that simply means that it's one of the main sciences studied in cogsci, and that the approach to linguistics should focus largely on how language reflects the mind, which is only one and not necessarily 'proper' approach).</p>

<p>In short, yes, it can be very behavioral, but it has large portions of theoretical, more so than other social sciences (at least in my opinion, though that may be because I'm partial to theoretical linguistics).</p>

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<p>I've got to head to class now so I'll post a more indepth response when I get a chance, but I just wanted to say thank you for the fast replies!</p>

11

<p>I partial to functional linguistics, if by theoretical linguistics you mean formalism.</p>

<p>But I have to agree with much of what kyledavid has said.</p>

<p>Just to add that if you want to have a more indepth idea on how each school treats linguistics, you may check out the linguistics or applied linguistics dept website in these schools. Pay particular attention on what each Prof is doing in their description. I think this is a good way to get a sense of what you'll be going into:</p>

<p>MIT/Georgetown/Ohio State/Penn/Stanford/UCLA/UCSB/USC/Cornell/Maryland/UIUC</p>

12

<p>I am in an intro to linguistics class. my personal opinion is that is is freaking boring. Syntax is horrific, phonetics and phonology are a little better, morphology and semantics are pretty boring though.</p>

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<p>Greek will be a good language to try too if you are into the root of modern words.</p>

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<p>I'd recommend you to study Linguistics. Of course, you'll have to memorize roots but who cares? Etymology is worth it!</p>

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Oh yes, forgot to mention, you may want to consider studying Latin.

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I agree, Latin basically stirred up my interest in etymology. However, prepare yourself to learn roots...lots of 'em :/</p>

15

<p>Have you taken Spanish phonetics? Why do you like languages? Is it the sounds or the social implications?</p>

<p>Often times, language people love linguistics. I am a double major in French/International Studies with minors in Russian and Linguistics. I like experimenting with words, phrasing, I love to write, and I'm a grammar fanatic. Do you like English for the scientific side as much or more than the creative?</p>

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<p>First of all, you should try to learn English phonetic to see how fun it is. It's really nice to write with "phonetic" script so no one can understand what you write if they can't read the phonetiques. Why don;'t you take an introductiory course? You should also get some Noam Chomsky 's books to read this summer. ( the linguistics ones) . There are also plenty of other good linguists out there. I will look for a linguistic book and give you the title. It's writen by a teacher at U . of Michigan. I haven't read it myself but I heard that it's great.</p>

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<p>Linguistics has been awful. It is painfully airy and has nothing to do with what any of you like. It is seriously awful. You study mechanisms that may sound interesting in a 100 class - but you still have to finish major requirements and that is the catch. I hated my phonetics class because I never could get answers right , but that was the best class after the 100 class why? because you could actually get a right/wrong answer. EVERYTHING ELSE IS SUBJECTIVE. When studying about the mind and how it processes language - I wanted seriously to drop out of college. It is awful. You learn about semantics and pragmatics and phonology and whatever ******* subject that is so stupid. It is absolutely worthless and you sit there thinking about how “is” works in a sentence. Sometimes a week worth of lecture on “apple” or “dell” or whatever airy stupid ******* subject the teacher can think of.
Of course if you are a lame nerd who wants to sit there and find the perfect moment to say the word “**<strong><em>” in class, this major is for you. In the meantime, maybe you can find non-big-bang-theory-looking ling majors who love the subject to study with. Seriously, these people act like they could get no other job except for in a comic book shop or some hello kitty/harajuku </em></strong>*** shop. They really need social and bathing skills. Their voices are always SO loud and they never say anything relevant and they always overthink every ****ing thing out there. like using curse words in a sentence! ARGH! HOURS WASTED ON STUPID COMMENTS!</p>

<p>I am so stupid and regret my entire undergrad career because I stuck with linguistics making it impossible to enjoy anything else.
Maybe you can study linguistics at some farmer school and you’ll get to learn whatever you want but do yourself a favor and shoot yourself first before you suffer through the entire major. Unless you want to get a PhD in it - you will hate yourself for doing it. If you like the linguistics of a particular language - just study that department’s linguistics course … they’re out there. DO NOT TAKE THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF LINGUISTICS.
Sorry to be so ranty - but i just can’t believe how much I hate linguistics as a major and ive dug my hole too deep to get out.</p>

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<p>JGee, I understand how you can hate linguistics so much. I do. But…I really don’t see how it was worth reviving this 4 year old thread to tell people that. Most of my friends in linguistics enjoy it, though like you they each have certain aspects they dislike. I must say, though, that you did give an accurate summary of linguistics, whether you like it or not. :p</p>

<p>May I ask why you went into linguistics? Did you have a specific goal in mind going in, or any expectations about the program? I’m really surprised you managed to stick with it, given how much you disliked it. Is there any chance you can tack on a second major or the like?</p>

<p>I hope I don’t sound like I’m dismissing your (totally valid!) opinion, I just find it interesting to have met someone with such a different opinion of linguistics from what I’ve normally encountered, especially given you managed to get all the way through the program. Usually there’s something for everyone in ling!</p>

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<p>@JGee</p>

<p>do you go to ZooMass?</p>

<p>xP linguistics looks exciting, but requires a very particular type of mind. the type of mind that is both a grammar nazi and somebody who enjoyed simplifying algebraic expressions in middle school.</p>

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<p>@vienneselights: Grammar nazi? At least at my school, linguists try to be descriptive, not prescriptive. Having a strict view of how grammar is used is more likely to do you a disservice in linguistics, and it’s beaten out of you in short order. :p</p>