Linguistics and your career

Useful links: careers in linguistics

The best reasons for studying English Language and Linguistics are some initial interest in language and the feeling that you are likely to enjoy the course.

Linguistics is, of course, relevant to a number of careers including publishing (traditional and online), journalism, advertising, teaching, law, speech therapy, translation and interpreting and many more. There are also a number of careers that utilize linguistics directly e.g. computational linguistics, lexicography and, of course, academia.

However, you should not feel limited by the careers listed above. Here is food for thought: 90% of all jobs in the biotechnology industry had not even been thought of 10 years ago and the same applies to many other sectors. There are more than 30 000 possible jobs out there and the number grows faster than we can count them. Since your career will last the next 40 years or so, the chances are that you are preparing yourself at university for a career that has not even been dreamed up yet. So focus on developing yourself and your skills as a total package that you can sell to an employer.

In the Department of Linguistics, we specifically train our graduates to analyse a range of information critically and to conduct innovative and independent research. Linguistics graduates are prized for their ability to bring analytical problem-solving skills to bear on multifaceted problems. These generic skills are important to a number of industries – even ones that are not specifically linguistic in orientation. Generally, postgraduates from our department go on to specialize in any number of areas and are employed in many different sectors. These include: publishing, linguistic consultancy, human resources, lexicon branding and marketing, education, language policy and planning, computational linguistics, translation, academic research and entrepreneurship. [Related links]

There is an increasing trend internationally to employ linguists with research degrees (especially multilingual graduates with combined degrees in linguistics and computer science) in composite teams working on projects like computational implementation of linguistic technologies and also international marketing strategies. Within these projects, linguists are recruited as managers, language engineers, information analyst contractors and researchers (www.linguistlist.org/jobs). Many of these jobs are on the Department of Labour's scarce skills list and relate to industries that are still in their infancy in South Africa.

Communications / Public Relations / Management

a command of the norms of verbal and written communication
understanding of how people are influenced by language
a thorough grounding in the reasons underlying cross-cultural misunderstandings

Jennifer Smit: Communications officer Since graduating from Rhodes I have joined an international company where my job is essentially communication. Public relations, marketing, writing, public speaking. Linguistics has given me a better understanding of the finer nuances of language that has proved extremely useful in a job of this nature.

Journalism & Advertising

understanding of the effects of linguistic structures on readers
insight into techniques of writing
experience in textual analysis
a command of the norms of verbal and written communication
awareness of linguistic techniques used to manipulate readers
training in the effects of connotations of words and visual imagery

Lorna Hiles: Freelance journalist and Media Monitor for the Nelson Mandela Foundation I have found that Linguistics and Journalism makes a powerful combination in the job market.

Computational linguistics

familiarity with phonetics, syntax and morphology
ability to implement formal models of language

Candice Caldwell: currently completing a Ph.D. at Cambridge University I believe anyone with a background in Linguistics has an enormous amount to contribute in many different fields; my time in the UK has only reinforced this belief...There is a head-hunter in the US dedicated only to finding linguists - people good at syntax are particularly valued in high-tech industries. Dictionaries are fascinating and a high-tech business now. And linguistics is a pre-requisite for training in this area, particularly for bilingual and learner dictionaries.

Law
a clear grasp of the meanings of syntactic structures of English
training in ways to demystify and simplify complicated language
awareness of issues involved in promoting the use of lain language'
a thorough understanding of language policy issues and language planning issues in South Africa and other countries
Frances Gordon: International Consultant and Director of Touchpoint Communications Consulting jobs have taken me all over the world. I have worked for projects in London, Prague, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, New York, Los Angeles -- and many other places.
I can honestly say that I use concepts I learnt in Linguistics everyday. On the applied side, I have to understand how to structure concepts for different languages and cultures; I have to understand the `power-plays' people execute through language; I have to transform confusing sentences into the grammatical forms that are easiest for readers to understand. I even use theoretical concepts I learnt in my grammar courses to help me structure the content of websites. And of course the disciplines of plain language and information design are guided by linguistic theory.

Literacy and academic development
training in recognised methods of teaching language
familiarity with concepts in literacy, especially at tertiary level
Carol Hobson-Chadd: Language teacher Linguistics has given me a distinct advantage in the classroom, especially since English learners often have a far better grasp of grammar than many of their teachers. Linguistics has given me sensible answers to their questions and a greater understanding of the difficulties they have when learning.
Teaching
insight into how people learn a first language
awareness of which language is appropriate for text books and teachers
familiarity with methods and techniques in multilingual classrooms
understanding of the problems of second language teaching
familiarity with current debates about language policy in South Africa
a training in teaching English to foreigners
insight into language problems (e.g. dyslexia) in the classroom
Translation & interpreting
sensitivity to semantic nuances and cultural meanings in translation
training in the methods and techniques of lexicography
understanding of the interpreting needs in lawcourts and hospitals
Sharon Fay: Public relations manager for MassDiscounters (Dion, Game) Effective communication is critical for business efficiency, and this is where Linguistics has been of immense benefit.

Editing
mastery of standard usage in written English
concern for linguistic detail
understanding of the effect of alternative structures or lexical choices
Speech Therapy / Psychology
understanding of the link between language and mind, and how humans learn language
ability to identify language pathologies (e.g dyslexia; stuttering; aphasia)
knowledge about treatment for selected pathologies