Five students of diverse backgrounds sit around a black metal mesh table in a brick courtyard, engaged in conversation under the shade of green trees and near a brick building with arched walkways.

Linguistics

  1. Home
  2. Academic Departments
  3. Linguistics

Linguistics is the scientific study of how language works鈥攆rom the way we physically produce sounds and structure grammar in our minds, to how we create communities and identities through language, and how we build complex digital worlds with code.

Have you ever wondered why鈥

  • Certain people learn languages better than others?
  • You automatically change the way you talk when you are with friends versus talking to a professor?
  • Some accents are treated as desirable or 鈥渃ool鈥 while others are severely judged?
  • Siri or Alexa sometimes completely misses your vibe?

If you are a fan of languages, culture, and technology, you are already a linguist at heart. At 91快播, our goal isn鈥檛 just to teach you about languages; it鈥檚 to teach you how to deconstruct systems through the study of language. 

Linguistics is available as a minor or a Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS) Student-Designed Major. Interested students should contact Prof. Abril Jimenez at abjimenez@davidson.edu or Prof. Rebeca Fernandez at refernandez@davidson.edu. 

Alumni Outcomes Matthew Skolar 鈥24

"In Andorra, I found creative ways to teach English to a diverse and highly multilingual group of high school students. With Catalan, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and English all being common languages, I was able to better understand how language and identity both support and come in conflict with each other. Aside from work, I also enjoyed cultural and linguistic exchange with my host family, church community, Catalan class, and new friends."

After 91快播

Linguistics expertise is highly valued in technology, government, education, marketing, and other industries. Some examples of where our alums go after 91快播:

  • Speech Language Pathology: Expertise in phonology, syntax, and language acquisition helps diagnose communication disorders, treat speech impediments, or assist with bilingual language development.
  • Law and Forensic Linguistics: Using the knowledge, methods, and insights in the forensic context of law, language evidence, investigation, and legal proceedings.
  • Public Policy: Knowledge of sociolinguistic frameworks and discourse analysis can ensure that decision-making is data-driven and inclusive as it seeks to safeguard the civil rights of diverse language communities.
  • Tech and AI: Working with Natural Language Processing and Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance language learning, analysis, and translation through real-time feedback, contextual understanding, and personalized interaction.
  • Education: Teachers with a Linguistics background use their expertise in language structure, acquisition, and variation in TESOL, ESL, modern languages, and literacy and bilingual education.
  • Marketing: Linguistics in marketing and advertising is often used to analyze consumer preferences and shape consumer behavior.
  • Graduate school and Grants: Former students have received Fulbright ETA grants, and many are now pursuing graduate degrees in speech-language pathology, applied linguistics, education, Hispanic linguistics, and sociolinguistics.

While being a linguist does not necessarily translate to studying many languages, most of us are avid polyglots! We are a community of 鈥減attern-seekers鈥 who believe that understanding how we speak is the first step towards understanding who we are.