English Language and Linguistics
English language and linguistics is the scientific study of the English language itself: how it is structured, how it is acquired, how it changes over time, how it varies across regions, social groups and contexts, and what these patterns reveal about the nature of language and its relationship to thought, identity and society. Unlike literary English, which focuses on how language is used to create art, linguistics treats language as an object of empirical inquiry, bringing the methods of science to the most pervasive and intimate of human abilities. Studying it means developing a completely new way of seeing the language you use every day.
At York St John University, this part-time programme is designed for students who need to fit their studies around other commitments, and includes a foundation year for those who would benefit from additional academic preparation before moving into the main degree. The programme explores how language is structured at every level, from sounds through to sentences and discourse, how people learn and use language, how social perceptions of language shape communities and identities, and how linguistic analysis can be applied in practical contexts from education to forensic investigation and speech therapy. A sandwich year with work placement opportunities and a year abroad are also features of this programme, giving you professional experience and an international perspective on language and linguistics.
Graduates from English language and linguistics programmes go on to careers in speech and language therapy training, language teaching, educational support, publishing, journalism, public relations, natural language processing and language technology, the civil service and research. The analytical and communication skills developed are broadly valued, and the combination of linguistic precision and cultural awareness is applicable in almost any professional context where clear, effective communication matters. Postgraduate study in applied linguistics, language teaching, speech and language therapy or computational linguistics is a natural next step for those who wish to specialise.