Course summary

By studying linguistics together with languages, students explore the fascinating human capacity for language, while also building fluency in non-English languages. As linguists, students learn about the structure and function of language, and about relationships between language and society. Students also study and practice written and spoken communication in a language besides English, and learn broadly about communicating across languages and cultures. Students' skills in linguistic analysis support language learning, and students' knowledge of language complements their work as communicators in an interconnected and plurilingual world. You will build expertise in linguistics - the scientific study of human language - while also building your fluency in at least one non-English language. Your coursework will explore the core domains of linguistics. You will analyse the sounds, grammar, and meaning systems of language, and you will reveal the physiological and cognitive processes that humans use to create and understand language. You will also intensively explore interactions among language, culture, and social structure. You will unpick the ways that we build and navigate our social interactions through language, and the ways our experiences and understandings of the world are shaped by language and culture. You will shed light on the ways that language, communication, and understanding function - and sometimes break down - in multilingual, multicultural, and multinational contexts. You will also devote 25% of your coursework each year to learning and practicing a non-English language, with the option to study any language offered by the University of Warwick School of Modern Language and Cultures. Most students study a single language throughout their course, but you also have options to study more than one language. By the end of your coursework, you will be highly proficient in at least one language - especially if you choose to complete an optional intercalated year-abroad in a context where you can practice the language. You can further customise your learning with optionality, especially during your final year. This will allow you to tailor your degree to your professional and intellectual interests. Courses offered in Applied Linguistics are unique for prioritising engagement with real-world datasets and problems and for challenging students to conduct independent research from the very start. You will develop proficiency in gathering and synthesising information, in analysing language and communication data, and in communicating effectively and persuasively. As a student, you will work in a rigorous and highly supportive learning community to create knowledge and solve problems. As a graduate, you will be imminently prepared for a successful and fulfilling life in an interconnected and plurilingual world.