What is Linguistics?

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How to answer the question 'What is linguistics?'

Here are some thoughts from our alumni on how to respond to the question 'What is linguistics?':

Paula Iveland
BA in Linguistics, 1991; MA in Linguistics, 1993
English Language Development teacher, Watsonville High School

Before I decided to teach, I made a small attempt at seeing what I could do with my linguistics training in the publishing field. I got a job as a receptionist at a music magazine in the Bay Area, with the idea of trying to get editorial experience. In the interview, they commented highly on my background in linguistics and made rave comments about how well my cover letter was written. This told me several things: 1) good writing makes a huge impression and can open many doors 2) a B.A. coupled with good writing can open more and 3) a B.A. in linguistics coupled with good writing can open many more. I found that people in general don't know that much about linguistics, but if they do, they think that it is really, really hard so they assume that you are really, really smart, kind of like a rocket scientist. Sometimes, you have to explain what it is, but that can be to your advantage because you can stress different things depending on what particular skill you are trying to highlight.

Deana Meyer
BA in Linguistics, 1991
Returning to graduate school; formerly on the management team of an Internet Service Provider

In almost every job interview I've been asked "So, what IS Linguistics?" Having a one minute summary of what one studies in a Linguistics program and what the field is about in general is a must if you are going on to a non- Linguistics career or job.

While this might seem like a problem, in fact, it can be useful. Since no one (only one person in my entire 11 years of working) really knows what a Linguistics degree is you can make it seem like the perfect major for whatever job you are applying for. Emphasize the parts of the program that are most useful for the given job. For an assistant editor job, I didn't correct the employer's assumption that having a Linguistics degree meant I had excellent knowledge of the rules of grammar. For the position that required extensive grant-writing experience (I had none), I emphasized the high volume of writing done in the Linguistics classes, especially syntax, and talked about how that style of formal (and thorough) argument would work really well for grant applications where you are trying to prove that your program is the most deserving of the funding available.

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