BA Linguistics and ... SOAS University of London

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

Modern linguistics is the scientific study of all aspects of the world’s languages from their sound systems and grammatical structure through to the interaction of language with culture, the study of meaning in language, and the use of language in modern technology. Linguists try to establish what types of structures are shared by different languages and the extent to which languages may differ from each other.

The list of possible subject combinations for the BA Linguistics and... degree is given in the combinations section. SOAS is unique in the UK for being able to offer a range of subject combinations that include the opportunity to study the languages, literature, and cultures of Africa, Asia and the Near and Middle East. The study of linguistics may also be combined with a range of other disciplines in which the School has proven excellence such as music, law, development studies, economics, politics, religious studies, anthropology, art and archaeology and history. SOAS offers students an unparalleled range of options in choosing their second subject of study.

The linguistics component of the combined subject degree is designed to develop a comprehensive understanding of the way that languages are universally structured and trains students to master all the basic skills necessary for the analysis of different sound systems and semantics (the study of meaning in language). In addition, students may also take modules dealing with language and social communication (focusing on the interaction of language and social groups), morphology (the structure of words), historical linguistics (the historical development of languages), phonetics and the structure of an African or Asian language.

May be combined with:

• Arabic+, QT16 BA/ALG
• Chinese+, QT11 BA/CHLG
• Development Studies, LQ93 BA/DVSLG
• East Asian Studies
• History, QV31 BA/HLG
• Japanese+, QT12 BA/JLG
• Korean+, QTCJ BA/KOLG
• Languages and Cultures
• Social Anthropology, LQ61 BA/LGSA

+ 4-year degree with (compulsory) one year spent abroad
++ 3 or 4-year degree with the option of one year abroad

Structure

Students take 120 credits per year composed of Core, Compulsory and Optional modules.

• Core modules: A core module is required for the degree programme, so must always be taken and passed before you move on to the next year of your programme.
• Compulsory modules: A compulsory module is required for the degree programme, so must always be taken, and if necessary can be passed by re-taking it alongside the next year of your programme.
• Optional modules: These are designed to help students design their own intellectual journey while maintaining a strong grasp of the fundamentals.

Please note that students on the 3-year degree who do not take any language modules as part of their second subject must take modules to the value of at least 15 credits from the list of Strategically Important and Vulnerable Languages (SILs) listed below during their second and/or third year.

Year 1

Core Modules

Core modules must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.

Students will take the following core modules:

• Introduction to Linguistics
• Languages of the World
• Sounds, grammar and meaning in language
• Language, Learning and Writing

Other Subject

Students take 60 credits from their other subject.

Year 2 - Linguistics Pathway

Core Modules

Students will take the following core module:

• Approaches to Syntax
• Introduction to Research
• Meaning and Interpretation

Optional Modules

Choose 15 credits from List A (below), plus 15 credits from either List A or from the list of Strategically Important and Vulnerable Languages (SILs) below.

Other Subject

Students take 60 credits from their other subject.

Year 2 - Translation Pathway

Core Modules

Students will take the following core modules:

• Introduction to Translation Theory
• Introduction to Research
• Translating Cultures 1
• Understanding Texts

Other Subject

Students take 60 credits from their other subject.

Year 3 (or Year 4 for combined degrees with a year abroad) - Linguistics Pathway

Core Modules

Students will take the following modules:

• Advanced Topics in Linguistics
• Independent Study Project in Linguistics

Optional Modules

Choose 15 credits from List A (below), plus 15 credits from either List A or from the list of Strategically Important and Vulnerable Languages (SILs) below.

Other Subject

Students take 60 credits from their other subject.

Year 3 (or Year 4 for combined degrees with a year abroad) - Translation Pathway

Core Modules

Students will take the following modules:

• Translation Technology

Optional Modules

Choose 15 credits from List A (below), plus 15 credits from either List A or from the list of Strategically Important and Vulnerable Languages (SILs) below.

Other Subject

Students take 60 credits from their other subject.

and

Students will take modules to the value of 15 credits from List B, plus a further 30 credits from List A and/or List B and/or from the Strategically Important and Vulnerable Languages list.

Second Subject

Students will take 60 credits in their second subject.

List of modules (subject to availability)

• List A (Year 2 or Year 3)
  • Meaning and Interpretation
  • Intermediate Phonology
  • English in the Global World
  • Language, Society and Communication
  • Introduction to Arabic Dialects
  • Intercultural communication and interaction
  • Introduction to Translation Theory
  • Philosophies of Language
  • Fieldwork methods in language and culture
• List B (Year 3 only)
• Historical Linguistics
  • Linguistic Typology
  • Independent Study Project in Linguistics
• List of Strategically Important and Vulnerable Languages (SILs) (Year 2 or 3)
  • Amharic 1 A
  • Amharic 1 B
  • Amharic 2
  • Hausa 1 A
  • Hausa 1 B
  • Hausa 2(a) intermediate
  • Somali 1 A
  • Somali 1 B
  • Somali 2
  • Swahili 1 A
  • Swahili 1 B
  • Swahili 2a Intermediate
  • Yoruba 1 A
  • Yoruba 1 B
  • Yoruba 2
  • Zulu 1 A
  • Zulu 1 B
  • Zulu 2
  • Persian 1 A
  • Persian 1 B
  • Turkish 1 A
  • Turkish 1 B
  • Hebrew 1 A
  • Hebrew 1 B
  • Bengali Language 1 A
  • Bengali Language 1 B
  • Bengali Language 2
  • Hindi Language 1 A
  • Hindi Language 1 B
  • Hindi Language 2
  • Nepali Language 1 A
  • Nepali Language 1 B
  • Nepali Language 2
  • Burmese Language 1 A
  • Burmese Language 1 B
  • Burmese Language 2
  • Sanskrit Language 1 A
  • Sanskrit Language 1 B
  • Sanskrit Language 2
  • Urdu Language 1 A
  • Urdu Language 1 B
  • Urdu Language 2
  • Indonesian Language 1 A
  • Indonesian Language 1 B
  • Indonesian Language 2
  • Thai Language 1 A
  • Thai Language 1 B
  • Thai Language 2
  • Vietnamese Language 1 A
  • Vietnamese Language 1 B
  • Vietnamese Language 2

Learn a language as part of this programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.

Employment

SOAS BA Linguistics students gain the ability to engage in analytical thought, to carry out research-like work on unfamiliar data and to control and understand the use of language. Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.

Studying a combined honours degree gives students to blend a solid grounding in another discipline or subject area which enables them to place the knowledge they gain as part of their degree within a specific regional, cultural or disciplinary context.