Gauri Chhabra
“Language is my whore, my mistress, my wife, my pen-friend, my check-out girl. Language is a complimentary moist lemon-scented cleansing square or handy freshen-up wipette…”
So said Stephen Fry.
Imagine if there were no language- The world will be crumpled to- nothing. Language pervades each one of us- and is the breath of our beings. Those of you, who dive into the depths of language, might wonder why’ go’ is pronounced differently from its cousin ‘do’. This methodical and systematic study of human languages is Linguistics.Professionals with a degree in linguistics have a comprehensive understanding of language theory, are capable of language analysis, and are skilled in analysis of sound systems such as phonics. Experienced linguists can discern grammar patterns and application without actually knowing the actual language they hear.
Speakers of all languages know a lot about their languages, usually without knowing that they know it. For example, as a speaker of English, you possess knowledge about English word order. Perhaps without even knowing it, you understand that Rohit admires the teacher is grammatical, while Admires Rohit teacher the is not, and also that The teacher admires Rohit means something entirely different. You know that when you ask a yes-no question, you may reverse the order of words at the beginning of the sentence and that the pitch of your voice goes up at the end of the sentence.
Course Content:
Linguistics is a major that gives insight into one of the most intriguing aspects of human knowledge and behavior. Majoring in linguistics means that you will learn about many aspects of human language, including sounds,(phonology), words (morphology), sentences(syntax), and semantics( meaning).
In addition, you may be encouraged to complement your linguistic studies with courses in related areas, such as cognitive psychology, cognitive science, philosophy, anthropology, computer science, or communication sciences. You might choose to double major and make your linguistic work part of an interdisciplinary program of study. A secondary specialization in one of the areas just mentioned complements linguistics major nicely, and can enhance your training and marketability. You may also choose to engage in independent research, such as working as an assistant in a language laboratory, spending time studying or traveling abroad, or doing fieldwork. Taking advantage of these opportunities allows you to be well- rounded and better informed, and will open horizons.
Qualifications and Course Cursor:
There are several universities and other institutes offering courses on foreign languages. The major languages on which these courses are offered are French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Persian and Chinese. However, candidates need to satisfy the eligibility criteria for getting admission to the courses available.
The courses and their eligibility criteria:
” Bachelor’s degree in foreign language, Duration: 3 years, Eligibility: 10+2 ( any stream).
” Integrated Master’s course in Foreign Languages, duration: 5 yrs, Eligibility: undergraduate or graduate .
” Diploma or Certificate courses. Duration: 6 months – 1 year, Eligibility: 10+2
” M.A, Duration: 2 years, Eligibility: graduation in the language applied for.
” M.Phil, Eligibility: M.A in the language applied for
” Ph.D, Eligibility: M.A in the language applied for.
Institute Scape:
” Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad. ciefhyd@ciefl.ac.in
” Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Mahrauli Road, New Delhi.www.jnu.ac.in
” Department of Linguistics, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore- Tamil Nadu
” Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
” Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Baroda
” University of Kolkata, College Street, Kolkata
” School of Languages – Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
” Benaras Hindu University – Varanasi
” University of Delhi – New Delhi
” Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Jawaharlal Nehru Academy of Languages – New Delhi
” Max Mueller Bhavan- major metros.
” Indo – Italian Chamber of Commerce – Mumbai
” Japanese Information and Cultural Center – New Delhi
” Ram Krishna Mission – Kolkata
” Indo-Japan Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, Chennai
” Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune
” Rajasthan University, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Career Pathway:
A linguistics degree isn’t nearly as limiting as it was just a few years ago, and there are plenty of opportunities. It helps if you have an idea in mind when you start higher education as to what you would like to do for the rest of your life. That way, you can tailor your course load to secondary knowledge that you might need for the job field.Following are the career options after a course in Linguistics:
Teach English as a Second Language:
Many people who hold a degree in linguistics pursue careers in teaching. The burgeoning market for teachers of English as a second language provides opportunities for linguistics majors to apply many of their skills. Not only must they help students understand the language and the customs of English-speaking countries, they must be able to relate to students in their own languagesand mannerisms in order for lessons to be absorbed.
If you want to teach ESL , you will probably need additional training in language pedagogy, such as credentials in Teaching English as a Second or Other Language (TESOL). Many teaching positions abroad require only an undergraduate degree, but at least some specialized training in the subject will make you a much more effective teacher. Linguistics can give you a valuable cross-language perspective.
Teach at the university level:
If you go on to get a graduate degree in linguistics you might teach in departments such as Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Speech/Communication Sciences, Anthropology, English, and departments focused on specific foreign languages.
Translation:
Skilled translators and interpreters are needed everywhere, from government to hospitals to courts of law. For this line of work, a high level of proficiency in the relevant language is necessary, and additional specialized training may be required.
Consulting:
You may also choose a career as a consultant to a variety of industries, such as government agencies, companies who deal with international affairs or have a world – wide marketing presence. Technology companies rely on consulting linguists to help refine user interfaces and speech recognition modules. Linguistics specialists also work on revisions to spell checking and grammar checking software applications, helping businesspeople to express themselves through clear communication.
Neuroscience
Linguistics specialists help doctors and therapists work with patients who have suffered strokes or who exhibit signs of communication disorders.
Combating Mother Tongue Influence(MTI):
Sometimes business executives hit a glass ceiling when partners or clients cannot fully understand them due to strong mother tongue influence in their speech. Sometimes, managers who grew up in rural areas might find themselves discriminated against when competing for jobs in urban areas. On the other hand, in some job profiles involving marketing, there is a need to effectively mirror the language and dialect of their target segment to often close more sales or earn more promotions. Linguistics professionals help their clients overcome these obstacles by teaching them how to adjust their language and mannerisms to fit professional situations.
Market Research:
Market researchers rely on trained linguists to help frame up questions and conversations for research subjects.
Speech Therapy:
Professionals with a linguistic degree are often the best to work as speech therapists because they have an ear for the subtle nuances of language. Their background in linguistics gives them an unequaled advantage in this career, allowing them to distinguish problems that others might have trouble discerning.
Publishing:
The publishing industry also has a high demand for professionals with a linguistic degree. Transcribing books and texts for audio recordings, for example, is important work, and individuals might make higher income when working for academic publishers. Linguists can also work as technical writers and editors if they have supplemented their education with writing and literary courses. Many new products are developed by multi-national teams of researchers, who often produce documentation that even they might find confusing. Linguistics graduates work with these inventors to overhaul complex instructions into manuals and documents that can be easily understood.
Assistance in Lexicography:
The development of good dictionaries requires the help of qualified linguistic consultants. Knowledge of phonology, morphology, historical roots of words is essential for compilation of dictionary.
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