How to Learn Linguistics

Globe and book

Linguistics is the study of language. Some of the areas it explores include the relationship between structure and meaning, as well as the evolution of languages. Learning linguistics will help you learn about the science of language and will help you learn more about how people communicate.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Linguistic classes
• Language immersion classes
• Linguistics research
• Philosophy classes
• Linguistics society

Learning Linguistics

1. Take classes in linguistics. University linguistics departments have resources that will help you advance your learning in the discipline. By interacting with professors who have done research in the field, you will learn more about different areas within linguistics.

2. Explore different languages by taking language classes. Learning other languages will help you understand certain methods of communication in other cultures and inform your perspectives.

3. Do research with a linguistics scholar. This will help you to immerse yourself in the field. By doing research, you will not only gain insight by reading other scholars' works, but it will help you specialize in an area within the field.

4. Take philosophy classes. Philosophy deals a lot with the same topics as linguistics, including form and content. Much research in philosophy deals with language. Taking philosophy classes will allow you to look at language studies in a different way.

5. Join a linguistics society. This will enable you to network with other linguists from around the world and expose you to new research in the field through conventions and annual meetings.

References

• Linguistics Society of America
• Language Studies
• National Science Foundation on Language Learning

Resources

• Linguistics Department at Stanford University
• Center for Applied Linguistics
• The Linguist List