Department of Linguistics

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What is Linguistics?

Linguistics at Macquarie focuses on the study of language and its uses and applications in society. It aims to make connections between theoretical, descriptive and applied studies which address problems and issues in human communication. It has close relationships with other disciplines in the University which have a concern for language and language in use, such as English, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Mass Communication, Modern Languages, Education, Physics, Information Technology, Biology, Computing, Law, Philosophy and Management.

Why should you study Linguistics?

Linguistics lies across the traditional boundaries of humanities, science, technology and social science since language is a general human asset developed and used by all people in all activities.

As a discipline, Linguistics has two main objectives:

1. the systematic and analytic study of language itself as our most characteristic and valuable human asset; and
2. the study of how humans make use of language in a wide range of contexts as they manage their complex social behaviours and interactions.

Thinking about language and language in use compels us to face up to questions such as

• What do we unconsciously know about language?
• How can we learn to talk about it?
• How does language reveal ourselves to ourselves and to others?
• How can we learn to be critical about our linguistic beliefs and prejudices?
• Why do some languages thrive and other languages die out?
• Can anyone learn any language?

These are just some of the questions that interest linguists and we hope they might also interest and engage you. We would be happy if we can find ways to enable you to talk and write about language, and most of all, we hope we can challenge some of those prejudices about language and its use that make life difficult for so many.

So, for us in the Department at Macquarie, Linguistics is both useful and, most importantly, enjoyable and creative. Moreover, the analytic skills which Linguistics will help you develop will provide a useful foundation in whatever career you follow.

Finally since Macquarie has the largest and most diverse Department of Linguistics in Australia, and many would say internationally, it will be a good place to have studied and you can be sure that we regard teaching and research as our top priorities.

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