MA Linguistics

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 language may differ from each other.

MA Linguistics at SOAS is a modular programme which combines the intensive study of the core areas of formal linguistics – phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics – with a choice of options in different areas of the discipline. The programme is run on a modular basis to suit the needs of the following four categories of students:

• Those with a degree in linguistics who wish to pursue more regional and language-based study;
• Those with a degree in linguistics who wish to pursue more research-oriented topics before proceeding to a research degree;
• Those with little or no previous training in linguistics who wish to acquire a knowledge of the discipline;
• Those with little or no previous training in linguistics who wish to take the degree as a conversion course before; proceeding to a research degree.