A linguistics major studies a wide range of topics in language, from grammar to language development and acquisition to speech therapy techniques and etymology. Though some topics are common among various disciplines, the exact nature of such study often depends on what aspect of linguistics a person wishes to specialize in or work in after graduation. Basic concepts such as grammar, language acquisition, and understanding how language is classified through various phonetic classifications are frequently covered in this course. After that, a linguistics major might pursue more advanced or relevant topics like language coaching and therapy, social linguistics, and linguistic anthropology.
While a linguistics major often begins as an English or other language major, he or she eventually develops an interest in linguistics and language in general and chooses to specialize in it. Much of a linguistics student’s undergraduate work is done in his or her home country’s native language, such as English in the United States. This work is usually expanded upon to include learning other languages or gaining a better understanding of the complexities and various concepts found in linguistics. However, once a linguistics major begins post-graduate work, he or she typically focuses on and researches more specialized aspects of linguistics.
Grammar is one of the most common subjects studied by linguistics majors. This is an understanding of the rules by which people construct language and meaning, such as how words are put together in a specific language to create meaning, and how those rules can change or develop over time. Language acquisition and development over time are likely to be studied by linguistics majors. Language acquisition is the process by which young people develop and understand spoken language through exposure to it and the development of their own linguistic abilities, beginning in infancy and continuing into childhood.
A linguistics major may also study more practical aspects of linguistics and language, such as applied linguistics or speech therapy methodologies. These subjects enable linguists to work in fields such as speech coaching and therapy, as well as provide support to psychologists working with people who have difficulty expressing themselves through language. Social linguistics and linguistic approaches to subjects like anthropology are two other subjects that linguistics majors are likely to study. By studying etymology and the origins of words, linguists can better understand how languages develop and evolve over time, as well as how society changes language and how language changes society.