What Is the Role of a Linguist?

The field of linguistics refers to the field of science related to human language. Linguists may take on a variety of roles, given their individual interests and avocations. A few of the careers that linguists can pursue include jobs in the fields of education, translation/interpretation, publishing and computers or technology.

What is Linguistics?

Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. There are several different disciplines within the field of linguistics. These disciplines include language acquisition, morphology, phonetics, phonology, semantics, and syntax. Language acquisition is the study of how young children learn to speak and older children/adults learn a second language. Morphology refers to the study of word structure and formation. Phonetics refers to the study of how sounds are made and perceived. Phonology is the study of language sound patterns. Semantics is the study of word meaning. Syntax is the study of sentence structure and phrasing.

Academic Careers

Many linguists pursue a career in academia or education. With additional training, a linguist may teach English as a Second Language (ESL) at home or abroad. Another option is to teach linguistics at the college level. Those with a background in linguistics are also qualified to work in the field of curriculum development of teacher training in the area of language arts. Another avenue taken by linguists is to teach a foreign language (given additional training and competence in one or more foreign languages).

Translators and Interpreters

Those with a background in linguistics and one or more foreign languages are also qualified to work as translators or interpreters. Interpreters and translators work in a variety of settings, including the medical, law and nonprofit fields. There are also a number of job opportunities with a variety of different governmental agencies, both in-country and internationally.

Publishing Industry

Due to their competence with the way language works, linguists may also find work in the publishing industry. This may include work as a writer or editor for a publishing house, work with the development of dictionaries or thesauruses, or work in the test-development industry.

Computers and Technology

For those with a technical bent, linguists also work in the field of computers and other technologies. Linguists with a background in computer science may find work in the design of search engines, computer-assisted translation, speech-recognition programming and artificial intelligence.

Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions About Linguistics