Department of Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language in all its forms, both in individuals and in society. It examines everything from the physical properties of sound waves in speech to the structure andsocietal context of conversation. Specific areas of linguistics examine how languages are structured, what features they share and what distinguishes one from another, and how language is acquired and used.
Is Linguistics for you?
Linguistics is for students who are interested in questions about languages, who are curious to examine how languages develop and change and affect our lives. Linguistics will be of particular interest to students who want to further develop their skills in data analysis, problem solving and logical thinking. Whether you already speak more than one language, or wish to learn another language, Linguistics will provide you with a multidisciplinary understanding of the complexity and creativity of human language.
Areas of Study
Linguistics offers couses in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, covering the areas of applied linguistics, language and cognition, computational linguistics, discourse analysis and pragmatics, First Nations linguistics, linguistic variation and experimental linguistics. Linguistics also offers a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language which includes supervised practice teaching in a language classroom. The Department also offers field schools and a co-op program that has placed students as language trainers and technical writers.
Where can Linguistics take you?
- Book, multi-media, and magazine environments
- Consulting firms
- Small business
- Public administration
- International development agencies and organizations
- Education and academia
- Government policy analyst or researcher, Public Service Commission of Canada
- Law and international organizations
- Language/ESL Teacher
Department of Linguistics website
Robert C. Brown Hall Room 9201
Tel: (778) 782-4585
Fax: (778) 782-5659
Chair: Dr. Tom Perry
Chair's Secretary: Silvana Di Tosto
Manager, Academic and Administrative Services: Rita Parmar
Graduate/Undergraduate Secretary: Rayhani Haleem
Undergraduate Advisor: Rita Parmar
