What Is Linguistics?

Linguistics is a science that intersects social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. It is the study of human language from many different aspects including the structure of language, the sound system, words and their meanings, the history of language, language and the mind, and language and culture.

Why Study Linguistics?
  • Improve your ability to decode and understand communication
  • Increase cultural awareness and sensitivity
  • Develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Learn foreign languages faster
  • Get practice in data analysis
  • Build background for studies in communication, foreign languages, translating, psychology, and philosophy

Linguistics explores interesting questions about language, including:

  • How is language related to the mind?
  • What does language usage indicate about speakers?
  • How did language originate?
  • Why and how does language change?
  • How do speakers use language to advance their position in society?
  • What influence does language have on political conflicts and peace negotiations?

There are three major branches of linguistics. General linguistics is the study of the phenomena, historical changes, and functions of language without restriction to a particular language or to a particular aspect of language. Applied linguistics identifies, investigates, and offers solutions to language-related real-life problems. Theoretical linguistics involves the search for an explanation of properties that all, or many, languages have in common and developing hypotheses about our knowledge of language.

The Benefits of Studying Linguistics

The study of linguistics helps you to better understand the world around you. Why? Because as human beings, we perceive, organize, and understand our world through language. We express ourselves and connect to others through language. When we see something interesting or shocking, when we try to remember a fact or event, and when we express anger or love. We use language to shape and share our experiences. When we read, sing write, converse, or daydream, language is at the heart of our experience. When you study Linguistics, you not only investigate sounds, words, and structures, but you gain entry into the heart of humanities.