What is the field of languages all about?

by StudyMalaysia.com on June 16, 2019 | Top Stories, Career Guide

What is the field of languages all about? - StudyMalaysia.com

Do you know what they call a person who knows many languages? A polyglot! But wait, you don’t need to be a polyglot to study language and linguistics. If you love to study language—its structure, use, history, culture and more—a degree in language could be a rewarding challenge.

The language field of study is about the structure and use of languages, and the literature of particular times and geographic areas This field of study develops an understanding of the nature, structure, sound and form of language, the development and changes in literary styles, and languages and literature in their social and cultural contexts. It also involves developing abilities in understanding, speaking, reading and writing in a foreign language and in critically analysing literary works and form in their social and cultural contexts.

What you will study

In the field of languages, you will study courses which will develop your understanding of past and present cultures relating to the country or regions in which the language of study is spoken. It often involves the study of literary texts, film and media, as well as learning about the historical and political contexts of a certain region. You will likely have the opportunity to study for a time in that country.

If you choose to major in linguistics, you will deal with matters like the unconscious knowledge that humans have about language, how children acquire language, the structure of language, how languages vary, and how language influences the way in which we interact with each other and think about the world.

Why you should study a modern/foreign language

You’re passionate about the language and the culture where the language is used
You want an opportunity to work abroad
Skills like problem solving, dealing with abstract concepts, are increased when you study a foreign language
Foreign language study leads to an appreciation of cultural diversity
You’ll have a distinct advantage in a global market when you know an extra language
The study of a foreign language improves the knowledge of one’s mother tongue

Adapted from: Twenty-five Reasons to Study Foreign Languages

Some of the courses you might take in a language programme include:

How Language Works
Language, Learning & Teaching
Language, Society & Mind
Researching Language and Professional Practice
Foundations of Linguistics
Structure of Language
Meaning and Discourse
Ethics and Society
World Literature
Semantics and Pragmatics
Phonetics
First Language Acquisition
Morphology
Syntax
Language Typology
Speech and Language Disorders
Speech-language Pathology
Linguistics and Grammar
Language, Philosophy, Mind
Creative Writing
Approaches to Analysing Discourse
Language, Culture and Ideology
Language of Gender and Sexuality
World Englishes

Is this course for me?

Are you skilled in analytical reasoning, critical thinking and argumentation? Are you good at expressing yourself clearly and at making insightful observations? Do you like studying about a language or languages, and its history, people and culture? Are you curious about how human acquire and develop speech and language? If you find these fascinating, you might just enjoy studying language and linguistics.

Courses in languages

General course listing:

List of Courses In Languages

Click here to search for the list of courses.

Career prospects

Job prospects for students of language programmes are varied. You can work for corporate or charitable organisations, media companies, museums and libraries, public administration, teaching, tourism, and others.

Academicians
Airline Services Managers
Archivists
Broadcast Journalists
Court Interpreters
Curriculum Developers
Customer Service Interpreters
Diplomat Services
Operational Manager
Document Examiners
Editors
Elementary School Teachers
English Language and Literature Teachers
ESL Teachers
Event Management Managers
Foreign Language Teachers
Foreign Service Officers
High School Teachers
Healthcare Services Executives
Import/ Export Specialists
Information Architects
International Legal Administrators
International Advertising Agents/li>
Interpreters and Translators
Journalists
Lecturers

Librarians
Language Teachers
Linguistics Specialists
Logistics and Distribution Managers
Marketing Technical Communicators
Marketing/ Sales Executives
Middle School Teachers
Patent Examiner
Product Planners
Public Affairs Managers
Public Relations Managers
Publishers
Radio/ TV Announcers/ Voice-Overs
Software Documentation Writers
Teachers (primary, secondary, postsecondary, tertiary, vocational, adult education)
Teacher Assistants
Technical Writers
Trainers and Instructors
Travel Agents
TV Subtitles Writers
Tutors
Website Editors/ Writers
Workplace Technical Communicators
Writers