You’ll engage with theories of how language works as well as hands-on analysis of linguistic data. The challenging integration of theory and practice will enable you to become a uniquely skilled analytical thinker and problem-solver. Your knowledge and understanding of how a language works and how we communicate, and the skills you will develop along the way, will give you a solid foundation for a wide range of careers.
This flexible course allows you to focus on your main interests from the second year onwards. You’ll be taught by world-leading academics whose expertise covers a range of areas of linguistics. We hold an Athena SWAN bronze award for our commitment to gender equality.
Overview
Studying English Language and Linguistics will enable you to discover the changing shape of English over time and space, and the science behind language acquisition, processing and communication.
Course details
You’ll examine spoken and written data to understand how language works, using tools from core areas of linguistics including syntax, phonetics and phonology, and semantics. You will apply your knowledge and skills in linguistics to different domains of language study, for example psycholinguistics, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, language variation and change, language in interaction, the history of English, and forensic speech science.
Building upon the core skills in linguistic analysis you developed in your first year of study, you can customise your programme of study by specialising in particular areas of interest in your second and final years.
Career outcomes
Effective communication, critical thinking and project management skills are central to most careers. The study of language and linguistics at York equips you with these skills and others, which translate readily into any work context.
There are specialist careers that lead directly from your degree, after additional postgraduate training, including clinical linguistics (speech and language therapy), forensic linguistics (forensic speech science), teaching (primary and secondary), teaching English as a foreign language, academic research and higher/further education.
