linguistics careers

linguistics careers

Exploring Careers in Linguistics

1. Introduction to Linguistics as a Field of Study

It might surprise you to learn that linguistics graduates have a myriad of career options from which to choose. The advent of globalization, in particular, has propelled the field into the forefront of language technology development for high-tech products. Knowledge of linguistics is involved in the creation of search engines like Bing and Google, as well as integrated personal assistants like Apple’s “Siri”. Companies, such as Microsoft Corporation, Nuance, and IBM, hire linguists to focus closely on language specifications and to create version 2.0 of the linguistic algorithms. Based on your skill set, perhaps one of these unique careers will be an outstanding fit for you.

When someone asks you what you’re studying, and you answer “Linguistics,” the typical response is “Oh, so you want to be a teacher?” In fact, the discipline encompasses far more than the study of proper grammar or standard usage. Linguists analyze the systems behind languages, seeking to understand the nature of human language itself. Because human beings use language in a multitude of ways, the reach of the field goes far beyond just understanding how to learn a second language. The field is vast, encompassing 5 general areas of study: The form of language (Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax); Language meaning (Semantics and Pragmatics); First language acquisition, Bilingualism, and Developmental Language Disorders (Language Acquisition); Language use (Pragmatics, Discourse analysis); and the historical development of languages (Diachronic Linguistics).

2. Diverse Career Paths in Linguistics

Many students believe that a degree in linguistics results in careers as professors or “translators.” While it is true that earning a Ph.D. in linguistics may lead you to a career as a tenured professor, the diversity of the field ensures that there are many applicable career opportunities at all levels. In the United States and Eastern region in particular, there are many jobs in the international technology field, in government translation, among various subgroups providing services in a number of areas of interest to linguists. With the increasing importance of language variations, a degree in general linguistics and computational linguistics application can help you improve employment opportunities. Once you have gained the necessary language, speech, and communication skills, the skills and expertise you have gained in these conversation skills are valued in many jobs and professions.

3. Skills and Qualifications for Linguistics Careers

In language: As the central concern of the field, knowledge and understanding of the particular languages your program emphasizes are key, and interest in specialized areas like semantics, historical language change, or the linguistic expression of gender will transform into deepened understanding, often of general principles that are applicable to many languages. With most programs requiring multiple semesters of study of the major language the program focuses on or allowing students to choose from different relevant courses for their specified language, you’ll have strong reading ability in at least one non-native language as well as firsthand experience in the language learning environment. Finally, the tools behind development of phonological or grammatical knowledge also extend to specific applications, like helping non-native speakers improve their accents, teaching zombie or other constructed languages, and discovering how different speech patterns can lead to misunderstandings.

Skills you’ll have when you graduate with a degree in linguistics:

Prospective employers for graduates in linguistics are often unclear as to what skills linguists bring to the workplace. They may be generally conversant with the variety of workplace roles available to individuals who have completed more clearly defined professional training programs, such as those in business, communications, engineering, journalism, or social work, but they do not need to know the skills that are typically mastered by students who have acquired a solid background in the discipline of linguistics.

4. Navigating the Job Market in Linguistics

In conclusion, earning a degree in linguistics, although it might not qualify you outright for a specific job, familiarizes you with the languages of the world and also subjects you to the different phonetic, phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic structures that exist across the globe, equipping you with knowledge that positions you to interact with people of different linguistic backgrounds, a valued skill in this day and age. Additionally, linguistics has many subfields that one can choose to specialize in, which, in turn, opens up job opportunities in that specific area of expertise.

Many fields value the skills and knowledge gained in linguistic training as part of an interdisciplinary or applied approach. Skills identified by employers include recognizing patterns in data, analytical problem solving, research skills, the ability to understand and produce complex information, working with and interpreting quantitative information, and understanding communication. In particular, students interested in the following areas should consider further language study: speech-language pathology, communications, creative writing, language planning and policy, teaching English as a second language, anthropological linguistics (especially for heritage speakers), English (writing, grammar and usage, rhetoric), or translation and interpretation.

5. Conclusion and Future Trends in Linguistics Careers

Some final thoughts about career trends in linguistics: The public’s interest in learning more about language and the implications of this knowledge will continue to grow in tandem with linguistic research. All academics learn their areas of specialization to great depths because of their concerted focus on one area over several years. Career-specific knowledge, such as that for journalists, librarians, and editorial assistants, is encouraged by several of the professional groups listed in this guide. Careers and graduate employment trends in society have historically responded to various financial and intellectual opportunities. Linguists can anticipate a corresponding commitment to and demand for their expertise in the future.

In this short guide, we have outlined the main employment opportunities in linguistics at the BA and graduate levels. We have also attempted to provide some advice for both upper-level undergraduate students and graduate students who are seeking work in addition to their academic careers. Finally, we have identified a number of especially relevant professional associations.