<p>How scientific is this major? Explain.
Thanks!</p>
<p>It depends on the department and its requirements, which can vary depending on the degree (BA, BSc, Applied Linguistics, Speech Sciences, etc.). Some programs only require one or two science courses, if that, and others require several, and have more science-oriented courses offered within the Linguistics department. </p>
<p>What are you planning to do with the degree? If you have a program or school in mind, I can look at the course descriptions and give you an idea of how scientific the program is based on that. I could go on at length, but I don’t want to give you irrelevant info.</p>
<p>syntax and phonology and all that sound REALLY interesting but I’m not all that great in science and all 
There is no scientific method involved right? I loathe that.
I wonder if it is more, i dunno, about words.
do go on, you sound like you know a bunch about it!
i wanna know!</p>
<p>Experimental phonetics uses the scientific method quite a bit, but it’s quite a bit different in linguistics from what you use in the harder sciences, so you might not mind it too much. I actually avoided the harder sciences because I didn’t like writing up labs, and now I’ve fallen in love with experimental phonetics, so be warned, it could happen to you, too! 
</p>
<p>Syntax and phonology and all the rest are fun at the beginning – until you get into the harder stuff. A good linguistics program will convince you that all branches of linguistics are amazing, then slowly make you hate every branch with a passion, except for one or two branches where you LOVE a tiny little corner of that branch. As an example, here’s a fun syntax paper: <a href=“http://web.uconn.edu/boskovic/papers/Boskovic-Nunes-2007.pdf[/url]”>http://web.uconn.edu/boskovic/papers/Boskovic-Nunes-2007.pdf</a></p>
<p>You seem to know a bit about linguistics already, but to give you a quick overview, there’s several main branches: syntax (sentence structure), morphology (word structure), phonology (how do we think about sounds?), phonetics (how do we produce sounds?), semantics (what is the meaning?), and sociolinguistics (how culture and language are related). There’s also associated fields, like applied linguistics (teaching language) and psycholinguistics (psychology of language). Ideally, you’ll find a program where there’s professors who are strong in each of these fields.</p>
<p>What interests you about linguistics? Is there anything in particular you’re hoping to learn about language, or anything I can elaborate on? :)</p>
<p>^^^Besides teaching, what entry-level jobs does a BA in linguistics usually find available?</p>
<p>Basically, I’m really into just learning about, what was it? comparative linguistics or something? I want to learn about dialects and languages and I know that’s second to the actual science of language in general, but…yea.
I’m very interested in language, history,writing that kind of stuff? It would be a good match for me?
Also, what schools are good for linguistics?
And really, thanks TitoMorito, you are superduper helpful XD</p>
<p>Maybe it’s just the fact that that is a high-level academic paper, but I am starting to get a sense of why most Linguistics majors who have posted here seem to hate the subject so much. Studying stuff like that seems absolutely miserable, almost masochistic.</p>
<p>So sorry for the late reply!</p>
<p>NumberTwoPencils: Linguistics is all about comparing languages, so you’re in luck! Sociolinguistics is the area you’ll want to look into if you’re keen on dialects and the effects of society on language. I think linguistics could be a good match for you, since there’s lots of writing on the assignments (it really pushes you to think about language in a different way from what you’re used to), it gives you insight into how other languages work and makes it (a bit) easier to learn languages as a result, and though it’s a bit rarer, historical linguistics is an area of interest for some linguists, so you can learn about how languages developed and came to be what they are today, as well as how they grew alongside other languages from the same family/due to outside influences from other languages.</p>
<p>Moreover: To be honest, I’m not too sure about the prospects, given I’m doing the BSc program and have designed my program so I can apply to several different graduate programs (audiology, speech therapy, physical and occupational therapy, and counselling/psyc programs). My one prof has suggested that Linguistics students may go on to work on developing speech recognition software (this may require some knowledge of computer science/an MA, I’m not sure), or they may work indirectly with teachers by designing language assessment tests or the like. If paired with psychology/anatomy courses, many careers related to health are an option, and if paired with language or writing courses, careers where a second language and editing skills are an asset could also be an option. </p>
<p>You’ll want to take everything I say with a grain of salt, though, as I have yet to test the waters of the current job market with a bachelor’s, and a lot of this is pure speculation. It’s probably best to ask the professors at your school to see what their former students have gone on to do with their degree, and to see what they’d recommend in terms of additional outside coursework.</p>
<p>Dreburden: It’s really just the last year or so that’re like that, and more so if students are on the academic/honours track. I’m pretty sure it’s possible to come out with a linguistics degree without hating the entire discipline and everything it stands for, so long as you’re in a program where you don’t need to take the higher level academic courses where what was certain isn’t so certain anymore, and everything becomes speculation rather than known fact. That said, I still love my major and wouldn’t change it for the world, and I’m even learning to enjoy syntax now that I’m helping people with it instead of having to be in the class learning it! :p</p>
<p>Tito, thanks for your kind response. To be honest in return, I have a friend that graduated 4.0 with a linguistics major and interest in languages in April. He hasn’t been able to find a job yet and is not really interested in graduate school. You sound like a very good, enthusiastic student and I wish you the best.</p>
<p>Thank you, Moreover. 
I realized while reading your post that I didn’t really touch on how dreary prospects look with just a bachelor’s in linguistics, but then again, apart from engineering and maybe business, no undergraduate degrees really feel like a sure thing anymore. I do think linguistics is a good major, though, if only for the versatility it has in preparing you for master’s degrees (which seem to be the new bachelor’s degrees, unfortunately), as there are usually relatively few course requirements, or else the additional requirements (as with my BSc) prepare you for a specific post-graduate degree. It’s probably best to go into Linguistics with a realistic outlook, a plan of action for after you graduate, and a back up plan (or two, or three, or four…), just in case. Like with all other degrees, it’s really what you make of it.</p>
<p>I hope your friend manages to find a job soon – if he hasn’t already, he should really look into his school’s career services and ask his former professors about potential areas of interest. I’m realizing more and more on my way out of undergrad just how invaluable those resources can be.</p>
<p>My son is going to study linguistics because he loves languages. He was originally going for a degree in modern languages but after hearing the prof speak about linguistics he changed his mind. He will major, have to be fluent, in one language and then two levels of two non-western languages or four levels in one non-western language. As far as jobs, many are hired by CIA, State Dept, govt for translation etc… Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thanks for your post CPParent. My friend did not do any “study abroad” even though I remember telling him I think you really need to with your major. At this point, I do not think he is willing to move out of the Southeast. Young men sometimes have much real world learning to do after college!</p>
<p>This is interesting. I never considered linguistics to be a science. You’ve changed my mind!</p>
<p>Re: Post #6:
“Basically, I’m really into just learning about, what was it? comparative linguistics or something? I want to learn about dialects and languages and I know that’s second to the actual science of language in general, but…yea.
I’m very interested in language, history,writing that kind of stuff? It would be a good match for me?”</p>
<p>OP, based on your stated interests, another field you might want to consider are anthropology (subfield of anthropological linguistics). Many schools also offer a linguistics track within certain language majors (e.g., Russian, German, and others) in which you can take coursework in historical linguistics, dialectology, etc. You also could focus on a language group (Slavic, Germanic, African languages, etc.), in which you can focus on those interests. A few English depts. (e.g., Wisconsin) offer a track in English & American linguistics; this can be supplemented by coursework in Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, etc. which were historically important in the development of English as well as taking coursework in contemporary English language and literature in its varieties outside the US and England (e.g., India, Africa). Other area that might appeal to your interests are in fields related to ancient languages and cultures in which you can take significant coursework on comparative and historical linguistic topics (e.g., Classics for Latin and Ancient Greek; Near Eastern Studies for various ancient Near Eastern languages; South Asian Studies for Sanskrit, etc.)</p>
<p>Awesome to see other people interested in linguistics! It does seem a bit tougher to find solid information on what the major entails and which schools have good linguistics programs, doesn’t seem to be the most common major out there.</p>
<p>As others have said, it’s obviously extremely important to think and plan ahead about what you want to do with your major. Personally, with the global economic situation being what it is, I’m increasing my marketability through learning Mandarin and Japanese. </p>
<p>As a general tip to anyone studying a foreign language in college, I can’t stress how important it is to find a way to enjoy learning your L2 (second language) if you truly want to improve and internalize it for life. Music lover? Find good music in your L2, listen to it and try to translate it. If you like to cook, find cookbooks or cooking shows in your L2 and enjoy the foods other cultures as you learn. Movie buff? Watch your old favorites in your L2 if you can find dubs, or challenge yourself and watch foreign films you’ve never seen before. Hope this helps somebody out there.</p>
<p>Wow this is really interesting and informative guys! Thanks so much!</p>
<p>As a high school students fairly interested in linguistics, what schools do you recommend I check out???</p>