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)
Contact details
Email english@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/linguistics
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- 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 (MA)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Papers
See the full list of Linguistics (LING) papers.
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 Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Linguistics, Māori Language (MAOR 110, MAOR 111, MAOR 112), Sanskrit or Spanish | 18 18 |
| 200-level | LING 214 Syntax Two further 200-level LING papers | 18 18 18 |
| 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 |
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) in Linguistics
| Papers |
|---|
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Master of Arts (MA) in Linguistics
| 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 Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Māori Language (MAOR 110, MAOR 111, MAOR 112), Sanskrit or Spanish | 18 18 |
| 200-level | LING 214 Syntax One further 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231) | 18 18 |
| 300-level | Any 300-level LING paper | 18 |
| Total | 90 |
