MPhil Linguistics

Linguistics is the systematic study of human language. It has its roots in antiquity, though the twentieth century saw an explosion of research and the development of new theories and approaches. Linguistics has become an exciting and vigorous area of study, with strong connections to many fields including psychology, sociology, anthropology, cognitive science, computer science, and philosophy.Language is complex, and linguistics attempts to describe and explain the full range of that complexity, especially speech sounds, the grammar of words and sentences, and how meaning relates to words, grammar and context. The M.Phil. in linguistics gives due weight to all of these, with core modules in Describing Grammar, Describing Meaning, Describing the Sounds of Languages, and Laboratory Phonetics and Phonology. A varied menu of optional modules gives students the opportunity to investigate social, psychological, historical and advanced topics in linguistic theory.