Think language, think Linguistics.
Are you interested in how language works?
Do you wonder how languages originated and whether animal communication is different from human language? Have you thought about why and how languages change? Have you thought about what all languages have in common? What does a person’s language have to do with where they live, their age, their gender, their occupations, their cultures, their social groups, and the historical times in which they live? Have you wondered how and why people learn other languages? Are you interested in how one goes about teaching another language? You will find the answers to all of these questions – and more – when you study Linguistics.
Why study Linguistics?
Linguistics does not prescribe grammatical correctness. Instead it describes how people actually communicate and how this changes from one context, situation, culture, geographical domain or even one moment to another.
When you study Linguistics, you will find the answers to a range of questions - How many languages are there in the world? Why and how do languages change, become endangered or die out? Why do some sentences have more than one meaning? How do new words get into a language? Why do different people speak differently, why do they sound different and why do they use different forms of language? How do children acquire language and why do they start to speak? What does it really mean to be bilingual or bi-cultural?
Career opportunities
There are many career options for Linguistics graduates.
The TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), minor equips you to teach English abroad and at home in language schools and other non-state institutions.
Previous graduates are now lawyers, editors, copy-writers, technical writers, journalists, award-winning film directors and producers, translators, interpreters, sign language interpreters, language policy makers, diplomats.
You will find Linguistic graduates as first language teachers, second language teachers, primary school teachers, high school teachers, speech therapists, university lecturers, polytechnic lecturers.
Linguistics graduates have gone on to be newspaper reporters, editors, television producers, television reporters, software designers, actors, comedians, education policy makers, machine voice synthesisers, entrepreneurs, publishers, creative writers, science writers, marketers.
Background required
Linguistics does not assume any prior knowledge of grammar or of foreign languages. All you need is a curiosity about the nature of language and how languages work.
Qualifications
Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
- Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
- Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
- Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework))
- Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Programme requirements
Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Linguistics
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 Language and its Structure One of GLBL 101 Introduction to Intercultural Communication or 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 | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure At least two further 200-level LING papers, one of which may be substituted with DHUM 201 Digital Humanities: Method and Critique | 18 36 |
| 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 |
Note: Students majoring in Linguistics are not able to take the TESOL minor subject.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Linguistics
| Papers |
|---|
|
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)).
Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework)) in Linguistics
| Papers |
|---|
|
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Linguistics
| Thesis |
|---|
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. |
Minor subject requirements
Linguistics as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc 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), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 Language and Its Structure One of GLBL 101 Introduction to Intercultural Communication or 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 | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure One further 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231 TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching) | 18 18 |
| 300-level | Any 300-level LING paper | 18 |
| Total | 90 |
Papers
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a selection of on-campus papers will be made available via distance and online learning for eligible students.
Find out which papers are available and how to apply on our COVID-19 website
Key information for future students
Contact us
School of Arts
English and Linguistics Programme
Email english@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/linguistics
