English Language and Linguistics

English Language and Linguistics is the scientific and humanistic study of language itself: how it is structured, how it is acquired, how it varies across communities and changes over time, and how it functions in social interaction. Unlike English Literature, which focuses on the interpretation of texts, Linguistics takes language as its primary object of inquiry, examining everything from the sounds of speech and the rules of grammar to the way conversation is managed and the way power and identity are expressed through words.

At the University of Reading, this three-year full-time programme is available with a foundation year for students who need to build their academic skills before the main degree begins. The programme also includes a sandwich year with work placement opportunities and a year abroad, giving you the chance to apply your linguistic expertise in professional and international contexts. You will study phonetics and phonology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and the history of the English language.

Reading has a particularly strong reputation in linguistics research, and you will benefit from that expertise throughout the degree.

Linguistics graduates move into a wider range of careers than many people expect. Speech and language therapy, teaching English as a foreign or second language, natural language processing and computational linguistics, lexicography, and publishing are all established destinations. Many graduates work in communications, marketing, human resources, and management, where their understanding of how language shapes meaning and social relations gives them a genuine edge.

Journalism and language policy are further options. Postgraduate study in linguistics, language acquisition, forensic linguistics, or speech therapy is a natural next step for those who want to specialise or pursue research careers.