<p>If I want to major in linguistic, do I have to take every possible language class my school offers?</p>
<p>No. Just take the most rigorous courseload possible.</p>
<p>I would suggest that you learn something about the fields of linguistics. Different schools emphasize different fields, i.e. MIT is known for computational linguistics and Penn for ethnolinguistics. My son listened to the lecture series on linguistics from The Teaching Company ([The</a> Teaching Company : Educational Courses on DVD, Audio CD, Tape, and Cassette - Lecture Series by College/University Professors](<a href=“http://www.teach12.com%5DThe”>http://www.teach12.com)) and felt that it helped a lot. Other than taking languages in HS, you will largely have to be self-motivated to learn much about the subject.</p>
<p>Linguistics is not so much about learning languages as about studying how languages work from a scientific perspective. Linguists often know multiple languages, but many don’t.</p>
<p>Search the forum for linguistics; there have been other topics discussing how to demonstrate interest in it. Definitely check out the “Other Majors” subforum. </p>
<p>As an aside, I’d also say that MIT is better known for syntax than for computational linguistics (an area which schools such as Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, and others excel at).</p>
<p>A knack for or enjoyment of learning languages is often a symptom of potential linguistics majors. If you want to take another language, do it! If you would just be taking it to show it off, you’re only making yourself suffer.</p>
<p>Okay so I only have 3 more years to finish high school. I havent’’ taken Spanish or French yet (and those are the only 2 my schools offers). This summer I self study Spanish. SO I wondery why should I , in year, take French class in addition to Spanish original credit in order to show that I’m into linguistic?</p>
<p>I think you need to do far more than take a second language to show that you are “into linguistic”. I assume that English is not your native language, so perhaps you already have a second language that you are studying. You need to go to a library or research on the internet what the study of linguistics entails. Taking a second language (or third) will not allow you to “game the system” and convince Harvard that you are serious about the study of linguistics. In any event, your listing of a likely major (concentration) at Harvard will have little weight on your possibility of admission.</p>
<p>Some of the linguistic courses at Harvard are math-heavy.</p>
<p>linguistic have something to do with math?</p>