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Study Linguistics at Otago

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Overview

Language is central, and perhaps unique, to human experience. Interest in its study has existed throughout history. Consequently, questions about language, and particularly the nature of its structure, use and development, have engaged scholars from a wide range of disciplines. Linguistics is the discipline that addressses these and other related questions directly.

Linguistics comprises different areas of specialisation:

  • phonetics (the study of speech sounds)
  • phonology (the study of sound systems)
  • morphology (the study of the internal structure of words)
  • syntax (the study of how words are combined into sentences)
  • semantics (the study of meaning)
  • pragmatics (the study of meaning in relation to the way language is used)
  • socio-linguistics (the study of language in its social context)
  • historical linguistics (the study of language change)
  • universal typology (the study of language universals and differences)
  • acquisition (the study of how first and second languages are learned)
  • applied linguistics (the application of linguistics to language teaching and other professional activities)

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Contact details

Email english@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/linguistics

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Qualifications

Papers

See the full list of Linguistics (LING) papers.

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Programme Requirements

Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Linguistics

Level Papers Points
100-level

LING 111  Language and its Structure

Any 100-level paper in Chinese, English (excluding ENGL 126), French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, linguistics, Māori Language (MAOR 110, MAOR 111, MAOR 112), Sanskrit or Spanish

18

18
200-level

Three 200-level LING papers

 54
300-level Four 300-level LING papers 72
Plus

198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.

Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts

 198
Total   360

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Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Linguistics

Papers

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Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Linguistics

The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Linguistics is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).

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Master of Arts (MA) in Linguistics

Thesis

  • Thesis: LING 5

Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Linguistics or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Linguistics must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Linguistics prior to undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Arts (MA) in Linguistics - coursework option

Papers

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Minor Subject Requirements

Linguistics as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, or BASc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) degree

Level Papers Points
100-level

LING 111  Language and Its Structure

Any 100-level paper in Chinese, English (excluding ENGL 126), French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, linguistics, Māori Language (MAOR 110, MAOR 111, MAOR 112), Sanskrit or Spanish

18

18
200-level

Two 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231  TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching)

 36
300-level

Any 300-level LING paper

 18
Total   90

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