Course summary

Why English Language and Linguistics? Language is a universal feature of human minds and societies and while English remains the most widely spoken language in the world many other languages are to be found which display considerable diversity. Understanding principles of language, including its properties, development, variation and use, and how these issues relate specifically to English provides key insights into the nature of language and its role in shaping our social and cultural identities, our institutions and our creative ideas. Our combined programme offers the perfect mix of arts and science in one captivating degree. As part of this fascinating degree, you will learn about the sounds and structures of English as well as the sounds and structures of many other of the world’s languages. Our extensive catalogue of optional modules gives you the chance to look at the way language is learned, how it evolved, and how it influences the way we think. You’ll also be able to explore the way English is used across a range of different contexts, including advertising, media, literature and the law or how technologies that produce or process language work. English Langauge and Linguistics is not just a fascinating area of study, you will gain a skillset that opens doors to a range of exciting and rewarding careers. Transferrable skills include a capacity for critical thinking, an ability to gather, organise and analyse large quantities of data, and an aptitude for developing new and innovative ideas. You will have the chance to develop specialist skills including in the lexical and grammatical analysis of English, computer programming for language technologies, and crafting language for creative industries. Why Lancaster? We are one of the largest departments for the study of language in the country and one of the most highly rated in the world. Studying linguistics at Lancaster means you will be able to:

• Explore a wealth of Linguistics and English language-related topics – You can focus on core areas of Linguistics and English Language including the sounds and structures of English and other of the world’s languages, address theoretical questions concerning the origins, nature and development of language and its relation to mind and society, and/or explore English as it is used in a variety of contexts including politics, law, advertising and literature.

• Learn from the experts – Our staff are world leaders in their respective fields but they are also all involved in teaching to bring you the latest topics and developments in Linguistics and English Language research. Our staff are famous for their work in corpus linguistics, cognitive linguistics, linguistic typology, forensic linguistics, speech science, the language of Shakespeare, and the use of corpus linguistic methods when investigating English.

• Benefit from our world-leading facilities: As a student at Lancaster, you will gain hands-on experience of research in Linguistics and English Language through our cutting-edge labs which are furnished with the very latest equipment. These include a phonetics lab, an eye-tracking lab, a perception and learning lab, and an EEG lab.

• Experience the world: Whether it be through our Schools Volunteering module, our Work Placement schemes, or our Study Abroad options, our degree programme offers you the chance to gain valuable experiences which will stay with you for life.