There are many different qualities that may make YOU a great linguist http://www.ispiritsolutions.com/blog-the-importance-of-linguistics-in-business-networking/
For many students, the hardest part about choosing a college major is not identifying his or her interests, but identifying his or her strengths. I began college as a Physics major, and while I loved studying complex theoretical concepts and being able to explain the world around me with simple equations, there was one aspect of the major I didn’t love: calculus. While a difficult class or two may have seemed like a trivial bump in the road to some, for me, it proved a much bigger issue. No matter how hard I worked in my math classes, I could not seem to do well. Even after going to review sessions, meeting with my professor, and putting in extra hours of practice problems each week, the best grade I managed to get was a C. I realized that although I loved physics, it was not what I saw myself doing in the long run, and that the stress and strain on my GPA were therefore not worth it.
After two years studying Physics, I switched my major to Linguistics, and I have been much happier and more successful since then. I still attend weekly Society of Physics Students meetings, where I can listen to lectures I find interesting and see cool demonstrations, but without the pressure of a grade attached to them. In Linguistics, I am able to study concepts that I am not only interested in, but also good at. Now, instead of spending hours each night going over problem sets with tutors, I am able to help my classmates understand new concepts. Instead of being afraid to raise my hand in class, I find myself actively participating in discussions. Some students are naturals when it comes to math and science, and others thrive in high-pressure situations, but if you prefer to feel comfortable and confident in your classes, here are five signs that Linguistics might be for you:
- You’re curious about the world around you.
Nathan Gebhard, co-founder of Roadtrip Nation and co-author of “Roadmap: The Get-It-Together Guide for Figuring Out What to Do With Your Life,” suggests that for many college graduates, their choice of major is just a starting set of skills and interests that helps to inform their career search, without necessarily trapping them into a specific career field (Gebhard, 2015). If you like traveling and learning about other cultures, Linguistics will provide you with the skills you need to understand those around the world – not just what they’re saying, but how their history and cultural beliefs formed their words.
2. You love learning new languages.
Knowing multiple languages is not a requirement of being a linguist, but, as mentioned on the Linguistics Society of America website, “it doesn’t hurt” (Macaulay and Syrett, 2016). Linguists study language; grammar, syntax and semantics all fall under this topic. In order to better study and compare different languages, many linguists find it useful to have proficiency in whichever languages they choose to research, so that they can make better connections with speakers of that language, and better recognize subtle differences in structure and meaning. Linguists working in the public sector (State Department, CIA, etc.) are often responsible for keeping tabs on world affairs and helping military personnel learn critical languages, so at least a basic knowledge of other languages and the International Phonetic Alphabet is very useful.
3. You’re logical.
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, and just like with any other scientific field, there are problems to solve. As a Linguistics student, you can expect problem sets, just like you would as a math or chemistry major. However, in this case, you’ll be studying data taken from different languages in order to try and find consistent patterns (Lefrançois, 2005). If you were ever interested in codes as a kid (making them, learning them, or breaking them), this aspect of Linguistics will fascinate you. Logical reasoning skills are key to identifying patterns and structures in languages you’ve never seen before, and will make you a great Linguistics student.
4. You have good attention to detail.
Just like logic, attention to detail is necessary when finding patterns and solving problems. Oftentimes, the differences between different words and meanings in other languages is subtle. Accents and sounds that do not even exist in english can completely change the meaning of sentence. Have you ever heard the joke: “‘Mr. President, bad news. Three Brazilian men were just killed in an attack!’ ‘Oh no, that’s awful! But how many is a brazillion, again?'” This humorous take on a misunderstanding, resulting from the same sound [-ilian/-illion] having multiple meanings, can prove to be common, and have consequences, if those in charge of translation and language patterns are not careful and attentive.
5. You’re patient.
Finally, it can be hard doing research and looking for patterns in unfamiliar languages, but if you’ve always been patient, you’ll have no problem with Linguistics.
If any (or all) of these qualities sound like you, then consider giving Linguistics a try.
Works Cited
Gebhard, Nathan. “Four Steps to Choosing a College Major.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 31 July 2015. Web. 12 June 2017.
Lefrançois, Pascale. “How Do University Students Solve Linguistic Problems? A Description of the Processes Leading to Errors.” L1-Educational Studies in Language and Literature 5.3 (2005): 417-32. JSTOR. Web. 8 July 2017.
Macaulay, Monica and Kristen Syrett. “Why Major in Linguistics?” Linguistic Society of America. Linguistic Society of America. 2016. Web. June 2017.
Linguistics in College 