Course summary

Linguistics is the scientific study of language, exploring language structure, language use in sociocultural contexts and the representation of language in the mind, as well as explaining mechanisms of language production and transmission of sounds. Language plays a pivotal role in all human affairs, and this degree will introduce you to the fundamentals of understanding how it works, including theories of grammar and the production of speech sounds. On this course, you’ll choose from a range of optional modules to pursue the areas that interest you. You can study in more depth topics such as how children acquire language, how bilinguals process two languages and how language changes over time. You could also explore issues around how language is used in different social contexts, or for different types of discourse such as social media or more formal written communication. Combining theoretical study with both quantitative and qualitative research experience, including learning how to collect your own data, this course equips you with a wide range of skills as well as a deep and broad understanding of a crucial facet of human behaviour.