What could a linguistics degree lead to?

[stigosaurus]

DS2 doesn't know what he wants to do long term, but quite likes the sound of a linguistics degree that he's seen.

Any suggestions what it could lead to? Is it worthwhile?

It can be joint honours with English, media, history, or communication and society - anyone any opinions on these?

Thanks

Speech therapy is the obvious one. I did it with English. I loved the linguistics modules.
It’s useful for historians, anthropologists and psychologists too.

Career in AI if you go down the computational linguistics route. Psychologist if you take relevant modules re, processing, language acquisition and development etc , Several such careers require post grad qualifications.

Does he do any langauges?

Thank you all.

Not formally but he does have a natural aptitude for languages. He will teach himself basic conversation of the language of anywhere we go on holiday, often buys books in other languages and translates them as he goes along etc.

Oh goodness; seems a shame he isn't studying any although he might be able to start a language at uni. In which case, translating and interpreting springs to mind.

Is he doing A Levels yet?

He could go on to do a masters in speech and Langauge therapy? Very varied career wise once he qualified.

Thank you - sounds like it has good potential then. He's in 6th form at the moment so thinking about next year.

He sounds great. And from what you say about him he’s picking a degree he will love.
I did translating Old English into modern day as part of one of my modules. That was particularly enjoyable and sounds like the sort of thing your son might like.
I also did psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics. It was hugely varied.

There is a historian called Simon Roper who makes YouTube videos where he explores Old English and how it would have sounded through the years. All sorts of linguistic videos. It’s fascinating. He says he’s not a linguist but he is. Your son may like to watch him. This is nothing to do with your question just that when you described your son I wanted to recommend this to him just for his interest.

I would do it with history. Depends where he’s aiming though. That gives him wider career options. It’s a huge shame he’s not doing a language. Linguistics is often pairs with a language. However History and Linguistics is better, in my view. Don’t do single honours linguistics - it’s narrow. Also there’s little translation work now and nothing really to do with linguistics. More languages.

Actually Oxford pairs it with Psychology. I can see why - looking at their course. The link to work is then well established. The like Maths A level for that route though. Otherwise English and MFLs are helpful. What A levels is he doing?

I did a linguistics degree. I’d make sure he checks the content of the degree itself - not all degrees are the same. Mine was far too theoretical to transfer into a career in SALT. If he is thinking about that he should make sure he chooses a course which is applied. The one at UEA used to be known as being the best applied one but that’s yonks ago now. Most of my year didn’t do anything related to linguistics subsequently which is a shame as it was hugely interesting. I became a solicitor. I don’t think there’s any need to study a language alongside it. It’s the study of language in and of itself so knowledge of some second language is sort of useful but no more than that.

@PresentingPercy

I would do it with history. Depends where he’s aiming though. That gives him wider career options. It’s a huge shame he’s not doing a language. Linguistics is often pairs with a language. However History and Linguistics is better, in my view. Don’t do single honours linguistics - it’s narrow. Also there’s little translation work now and nothing really to do with linguistics. More languages.

I think each course varies. Dd is studying linguistics but has a fairly free choice of modules from other courses. She has taken a language, psychology and music course so far as well as compulsory core linguistics modules.

@PresentingPercy

I would do it with history. Depends where he’s aiming though. That gives him wider career options. It’s a huge shame he’s not doing a language. Linguistics is often pairs with a language. However History and Linguistics is better, in my view. Don’t do single honours linguistics - it’s narrow. Also there’s little translation work now and nothing really to do with linguistics. More languages.

I agree. When I tell people I studied linguistics at university they cannot understand it because I only speak English. I have some knowledge of French but that’s it. It’s the study of language itself. I loved it. Haven’t actually used for a career it but that’s another story!

@TheRedShoes75 my comment there was in response to yours- no idea why I quoted wrong post!

Hi @stigosaurus!

An example: In 2016, I said to my daughter that she should do the subject she is most passionate about. She should knock herself out for 3 years at Uni ... and then work out she was going to make her rent! 6 months later, she changed tack significantly. In 2018, she changed her mind about her career, as well. Now she is in that field, but a slightly different specialism and set to go overseas for her PhD in August (Covid-19 permitting). Very, very different to what we were convinced she would study and follow as a career in February of her Year 12.

Another example: A friend of hers is a Music graduate and is now training in Coding and Technology. She loves it, having done her favoured degree first. (Her Mum put her foot down over which Uni should be first choice, though!)

Your son should speak to his Head of Uni Stuff at school and to another teacher. Then he should decide. I would be temped to encourage him in Liguistics providing he is still committed, especially after doing some reading around the subject this coming summer.

Languages? Always good in life and useful for Linguistics but more useful in post-graduate careers. The world is your oyster much more when you speak some of its languages. (My partner did a year in Europe as part of their degree. I was raised on two very different continents. My clients come from those two continents.) ... My father studied Linguistics 'for fun' and used to say it is logical, like Maths. (Cambridge has no specific requirements but recommends English and, yes, Maths.)

Career? This will look after itself as he graduates and he grows into his twenties. A good graduate is a good graduate to start in most careers, irrespective of most careers.

Yes, English and Maths are the sought after A levels. I think it is because of the psychology element (if taken) makes Maths relevant. English is fairly obviously desirable. For linguists, the MFL joint honours is very common. Most linguistics courses at Oxford for example.