Language & Linguistics

Language sets us apart from all other species, and Linguistics is the study of language as a distinctively human characteristic.

Linguistics studies general principles about how languages work, how they are structured, how they change, how children learn a language, how they are used in human interaction, and their role in thinking about the world around us.

This major is available for the Bachelor of Arts (BA).

Did you know?

Language is power. We use language for the whole range of activities that make us human, from passion to politics; we negotiate through language in every waking moment of our lives.

Linguistics comprises different areas of specialisation:

phonetics (the study of speech sounds),

phonology (sound systems),

morphology (internal structure of words),

syntax (how words are combined into sentences),

semantics (meaning), pragmatics (meaning in relation to the way language is used),

socio-linguistics (language in its social context),

historical linguistics (language change),

universal typology (language universals and differences),

acquisition (how 1st and 2nd languages are learned), and

applied linguistics (the application of linguistics to language teaching and other professional activities).

Career opportunities

While linguistics does not provide specific vocational training, you will be trained to use analytic, evaluative and argumentative skills which are widely applicable in the modern world.

Linguistics is a valuable subject for those interested in second language teaching, interpreting/translating, writing and editing, speech therapy, and computer programming.

The skills that you will acquire in Linguistics can be put to use in diverse kinds of employment once you have graduated.

Further info

Please visit our website:

www.otago.ac.nz/linguistics

For advice please contact a University Liaison Officer.

Email: english@otago.ac.nz

Write to or visit:

Department of English

1st floor, Burns Building

University of Otago

PO Box 56, Dunedin