The word linguistics is derived from the Latin word lingua which means language. Etymologically, therefore, linguistics is the scientific study of the way in which language works. Modern linguistics emerged as a distinct field in the 19th century. A growing and exciting realm, it has links to diverse fields including psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, computer science, artificial intelligence, sociology, anthropology and education. Linguistics is a key component of the emerging field of cognitive science, the study of the structure and functioning of the human mind and mental processes.
EMPLOYMENT AVENUES
Within linguistics there are masters and doctoral degrees focusing on theoretical linguistics, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics and computational linguistics. Students pursuing postgraduate degrees in theoretical linguistics are likely to find jobs working at universities or research labs.....
