Description

Understand more about how language shapes the world and our understanding of it.

Everyone uses language, but not everyone knows about language - for example, how we learn language; why our language abilities sometimes fail us; why people might have different views about what is correct; how and why language varies between individuals and in different contexts. On this English Language & Linguistics degree, students will learn how to answer these questions, and more.

This programme enables students to study language from a broad range of perspectives including the way speech is articulated, how language is structured and related to meaning and how it relates to speakers’ intentions and purposes in social interaction. As well as studying how speakers and writers use language and how it is acquired, processed and used in communicative contexts, linguists also study social attitudes to language and the way language functions to express identities and cultural values. This programme explores these topics and more through a wide array of modules which may include Language, Gender and Sexuality, Forensic Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics, Child Language Acquisition and Speech and Language Pathology.

This programme is distinctive in its focus on real-world applications for language study and has been developed by our research-active experts. Often taking a workshop approach, students are offered ways to apply theoretical knowledge to real data and explain how linguistic concepts and issues have vocational relevance in the working world.

Students will join the vibrant School of Languages & Linguistics, where their students organise a lively programme of languages and linguistics-related events, including guest speakers, trips, conferences and social activities with opportunities to be involved in staff research as a volunteer or paid researcher. With this degree, students may consider a career in teaching, publishing and journalism, advertising and marketing, management, IT, social work and speech and language therapy, or alternatively continue to Postgraduate study.