Why study linguistics?

[@ameliazhang8147]

Thank you for this intro video. I am already a linguistics graduate. But I still find it's so comforting and reassuring to know that an openminded linguist expresses the pros and cons clearly and honestly, in an unbiased way.

[@MartinHilpert]

Thank you, Amelia!

[@BobRoss_lover]

Hello, how hard would you say the major is?

[@LinnKelly]

The cons made me laugh - my linguistics textbook this past semester was indeed terrible (and I did hunt down the previous year's textbook to cross-reference!) and trying to get my head around shifting terminology was frustrating. The irony of language nerds messing up language they need to describe it is not lost on me. But I'm a lost cause for the study of linguistics, I love it :)

[@nicoleraheem1195]

IF you're a good writer then you can make a Linguistics book 😊 fun to read

[@jamesvarrone7062]

I'm at the other end of career planning. I'm in my late 60s and my original major was Linguistics. Not being convinced that there were a lot of career opportunities back in the 70s, I decided to change my major to the teaching of languages. (French and Arabic). Even though I often wonder where a linguistics major may have taken me, I had a very fulfilling career teaching, translating, and just enjoying reading, studying just about every area of linguistics. It's kept my fascination all my life! I look forward to viewing your videos!

[@maryanazaya3134]

I want to study linguistics and learn French and Arabic as well!

[@jakegraham7265]

James can I ask what you majored in instead? I'm strongly considering switching from business to applied linguistics so I can teach English abroad with better certification and understanding on how to teach people language.

[@jamesvarrone7062]

@@jakegraham7265 I majored in French and minored in Arabic through the college of education.

[@radiksafin5629]

Bashkir origin of the Latin word "arbiter" you can see here kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5q7XnucrbOFqaM

[@Adriana.Gabriela]

I majored in linguistics and still ended up as a teacher 🤣 my focus was on psycholinguistics and discourse analysis, so it kind of makes sense

[@anastasia4826]

Great video! I'm a high school student who is very interested in studying linguistics in college and it's helpful to get a better picture of what to expect. I promise that if I do end up becoming a linguist and doing my own research I'll try my best to write something interesting for future classes of linguistics students!

[@dejavudvora]

I studied African linguistics and mainly focused on sociolinguistics and anthropological linguistics. I remember that when finishing school I had no clue about linguistics in general. Fortunately I was interested in language learning and thereby more or less slittered into the field of African languages and cultures without knowing where that would end up. During my BA and MA I Iearned so much about topics that are closely related to linguistics and so inspiring and important to those who are interested in intercultural studies and living realities. African studies namely include critical postcolonial studies, you learn the importance of questioning the origin of Africanistic research, (it began as a colonial discipline), you learn to question and criticize the superiority of the Western science and the underestimated role of the Global South in the world's leading academic fields, rethink linguisitic concepts of language boundaries and differentiation (where does one language end and the other one start!?), reconsider the impact of intercultural language contact, questions of power and equality, of cultural representation and bias whereever cultures and languages clash and intermingle. I for myself had another discipline besides African linguistics than general linguistics and must admit that since I aim to follow an acadamic career regretted to not have studies general linguistics as one of my subjects, because ever since I feel like I lack a lot of understanding of these core terms that were exemplified in this video so wonderfully :) So I guess if you finish school and you are interested in humanity, in social relations, in languages and cultures, in intercultural communication and mediation, I would recommend you to combine linguistics with a cultural studies of your choice (be it African studies or Asian studies, or Latin America, and so on...). Language is everywhere in our life! It is a fascinating discipline and there is great potential to combine it with other disciplines. Finally: Wonderful video! I am so greatful to all professors and scientists around the world who take time to share their knowledge and experience on scientific topics on KZbin! Some years ago this platform was so superficial and useless to me, and now I find more and more University lectures and inspiring discussions on academic research and discourses, even for free! Thank you so much Prof. Hilpert for sharing your advice and keep on going!

[@LanguageandCognition]

This is nice and clear introduction of the field - linguistics. How can you remain so disinterested or impartial after doing much work in linguistics? It is one one of the linguist's qualities: not to favour something, but to analyse objectively and describe as it is.

[@wiliwalagordon6956]

I wish I watched this video before. I've always thought that studying linguistic is more like the humanities side. Instead, it's a kind of applied science. After entering uni to study linguistics, it totally subverts my original thoughts about linguistics lol. But I wouldn't say I regret about major in linguistics, it's still an interesting subject.

[@lastprince9199]

To study Linguistics is not solely to study human language. It is to approach one natural wonder of the universe, the human mind. For those who watched this video, if you were a true linguist, your breath would have been taken away as you watched this human wonder in action. You should be puzzled that how on earth with such finite number of sounds this professor expressed meaningful statements some of us might never heard them before!. How on earth he managed to cause changes in our thoughts even though he is not physically next to us nor the talk is happening now! Instead of calling it a wonder, some linguists call language a mystery of nature. It has always been a mystery that human took for granted for thousands of years. To understand the properties of such wonderful human capacity and explain how beautiful it is at work you need to study Linguistics. Come on and join the club. Thank you Professor

[@MartinHilpert]

Thank you, Telal!

[@程茵-q2h]

I’m so appreciated for this video. I just got my master degree on foreign language education. And I’m so confused if I need to keep on linguistics . This short video make me clear about the position where I am. I’ll think about your question and give myself the answer.

[@ludad5085]

Thank you very much for this video. It's difficult to choose a branch when everything is so passionating in linguistics.

[@claudiabernalgarcia7628]

Mr Hilpert, I really appreciate your time investing on sharing this invaluable information. I am an Emergency physician in Mexico, and I love Science. But I would say one of my passions ever has been foreign languages. Two years ago, I decided to go back to university, but this time I went for Foreign Languages. When we began to study Linguistics, that's when an inside conflict initiated. I began to inquire my professors and myself a whole lot of stuff regarding Linguistics. I cannot stop thinking as a doctor, I mean, I know exactly what goes on in our brains and the human vocal apparatus at the time of speaking and interpreting what we hear or read, which is way fascinating. So, Linguistics seemed too poor to my mind to be considered a science. And I agree with you about the difficulty to catch the actual ideas on the Linguistics text; especially Saussure's. In my country, doctors are the best paid professions of all, but still, I'm convinced that following your dreams ando doing what you really enjoy can be better than money and I confess I'm falling in love with Linguistics, or becoming literally mad about it.

[@MartinHilpert]

Many thanks for your comment and good luck with your projects!

[@guytemberggeraldsonjean9881]

I am a medical student. But i love languages, I know 4 languages (creole haitian, french, English and Russian). Almost everyone said to me that I should study linguistic, because I study languages easily.

[@КристинаПесочная]

Hello! Guys, is there any program/course/product of Martin Hilpert? His way of explanation is incredible.

[@rem8908]

Great video! I am trying to decide between linguistics and Montessori learning. It’s really difficult to decide since it’s two different fields. I am currently a major in English and would like to study further... so there’s still time. I have linguistics as a module as well so I have an idea of what it about. Next academic year, I’ve decided to also continue with two linguistics modules.

[@MartinHilpert]

Sounds great! Good luck with your studies!

[@rem8908]

Martin Hilpert Thank you! Your videos have really helped me during my finals, so thank you so much! Keep doing what you do!

[@nisarullahlecturerinenglis4375]

Kindly mention your Area of Research .... Are you a PhD doctor sir? If you are, then in which ?

[@dudacmarchesi]

I'm a current economics major and I'm dying to change to English. This video just made me want even more, thanks for it!! (The titles of the masters dissertations were really so confusing yet so fascinating/intriguing, we should deff ask liguistics postgraduates to write book covers lol)

[@carlosmunoz7829]

Thank you so much for your input. I'm considering starting a MA program. At first I though about Applied Linguistics because I was so passionate and interested throughout my whole BA program. I've been doing my homework getting schools and cities, asking around some former teachers. I had a talk with a teacher from the US who said it was more suitable to have a MA in Bilingual Education because we need that in Panama. I have found some programs that include AL/SLA AL/TESOL and AL alone. All th8ngs considered, what's your advice? If it were up to me I'd atart the Linguistics track plus either sla or tesol because it is what moves me and feel interested in studying. Thanks again!

[@spacecat942]

Hello! I'm studying philology, however we do have a lot of linguistic subjects and I'm trying to get myself to ~fall in love with linguistics~ in order to pass my exam better soon! Your video helped me a lot with that, thank you ☺️

[@maelstrom5957]

Thank you for the clarity and your honesty! I've been considering learning about linguistics at university next year but I'm sure now I won't even if it is tremendously interesting. So I'll continue to watch your videos instead!

[@tlnthelastnomad]

So far the most realistic and practical advice I've heard. Thank you Prof. Martin.

[@tlnthelastnomad]

Have you done an online course or MOOC for Introduction to Linguistics which we can access?

[@zaidanwar3703]

Hii sir.I'm Linguistics student at Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh India.literally its too helpful video ryt now for us and I humble request to you that plzz upload that types of Video, I was waiting for that videos from a lot of times.I m taught these topics in UG program at my college ryt now and I m studying this in 1st year.Thanks (ZAID ANWAR BA Hons Linguistics student at AMU Aligarh India)

[@devil33]

Are u thinking of taking Linguistics in M.A.?

[@retalretal44]

Why don't you try to have other versions of the same channel in other languages. I am ready to translate freely into Arabic . I really appreciate your explanations

[@MeowgiMan]

This was an absolutely fantastic video. The con section actually made me more interested in Linguistics than the pro's. Especially con #2 & #5.

[@emmabiondo4512]

I'm a student in UniFR, thank you for sharing a brilliant and honest explanation about the field of English linguistics!

[@MartinHilpert]

Best wishes from UniNE!

[@elamiri858]

Thank you for this amazing video. I've already decided to study linguistics and this made me even more certain 😄

[@ysabelledelacuesta7533]

I came to watch this video because we have to write an essay about a branch of social science, studying linguistics was never in my choice of college courses but man you got me hooked. Thank you for your clear explanation and realistic advice!

[@MartinHilpert]

Thank you, Ysabelle!

[@maxliu1354]

Thank you very much sir. I really enjoy your videos. I’ve just been accepted to my favorite university, as a linguistics student. And I think I owe you a lot. If you don’t mind, I would like to ask your permission to share your videos on linguistics to a website in China for the reason that KZbin is blocked from accessing in China, because I think your videos would be really helpful for those students who are interested in linguistics. Of course, I will mark out your name and give a direct link to your original videos. Thanks for reading.

[@MartinHilpert]

Congratulations, Max, that is great! You are welcome to re-post my videos on platforms that are accessible in China. Some of them are in fact already available on Wechat.

[@maxliu1354]

thank you!

[@claudiabernalgarcia7628]

You´ve answered many of my questions, if not all. Thanks a lot!.... There's no doubt I'll go for a Linguistics postgrad!

[@marieshino2472]

Well explained ! Could you please post a video about language variation (e.g. region, class, gender, age) and talk about characteristic features of the language?

[@MartinHilpert]

This one deals with variation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6bTYpqAppWXqac This one is about social variation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2apn4aPg52np7M

[@tommycecil60]

I'm considering a MA Ed in Applied Linguistics and this video was very helpful as a starting point.

[@ma.elizabethmedina9511]

Indeed, I have been reading linguistic books and these make me me more confused :(

[@godfreymabunda3336]

Thank you very much, your videos are always very refreshing and informative.

[@shumy26]

this only makes me more and more interested in linguistics even though I still don't know whether I'll study that or not haha

[@BryanKhelven]

Amazing video! How could I study with you? :D There are some visiting study program for international students where you lectures?

[@MartinHilpert]

Hi Bryan! You can have a look here: www.unine.ch/prospectivestudent/home.html

[@landrover4444]

I'm 54 years old with a PhD in comparative literature. Should I get a PhD in linguistics? I do nothing and I have avoid work.

[@polabear99]

Shared with the Linguistics Society, students and Applied Linguistics Faculty at Birkbeck University in London. Absolutely spot on.

[@MartinHilpert]

Many thanks, Cecilia!

[@kishorekudale4304]

Thank you so much Sir for explaining the importance of linguistics with pertinent examples. I'm planning to pursue mres in linguistics.

[@marieshino2472]

could you please give us an example of an authentic language sample/spoken or written that illustrates language variation ?

[@sern9120]

Superb . Great clarity of mind and content, whilst introducing a confounding subject.

[@M0nch_Cr0nch]

I hate to say it, but I think it's a pretty good indicator it's high time to start seriously considering a future in studying linguistics when the cons start sounding like pros... 😅

[@fatimath2722]

Hello Professior , Thanks a lot for this information, it was really beneficial video . I have just graduated from the university from the college of arts , department of English language and literature , I want to study master , especially linguistics. I want to develop my information and knowledge. I don’t know what to read or to look out. Please can you inform me about what to read ? Or what can I do ? I’m iraqi girl from iraqi university but my field is department of English

[@kimiagoodarzi4643]

Hi Professor Martin. I'm an English literature student in BA level and am interested in both linguistics and medicine. This dilemma is really annoying since I'm not sure if I persue either one of them, I'd be able to go back to the other one. Also, I happen to be interested in neurology and language acquisition which I guess will lead to neurolinguistics. Have any of your students had such a dilemma before them? If you can advise me on this in any way, I'll really and wholeheartedly appreciate it. Thank you

[@thealynsalaya615]

I, too, was pretty interested in medicine but for some reason didn't take any medicine related degree but a degree in english instead. When I got enrolled in my Masters of English studies, I got pretty drawn to psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics as I still am interested in medicine. Now, thinking of pursuing a PhD in either applied linguistics courses. It's not too late to still pursue your love for medicine and linguistics.

[@deejadean7010]

I came here cuz Tasha share the link with us. Thank you sir

[@Anna-mc3ll]

Thank you for sharing these observations and recommendations! I’m especially interested in morphology and the formation of polysemy, homophony, etc. Could you possibly suggest how to find a good and reasonable research topic, i.e. how to delimit and specify it?

[@smaildaily3395]

Thank you....prof. It is a great video... There is no doubt anymore for me as an Indonesian student to choose the english linguistic major in my country... Coz i really like English lenguage....😁😁😁😁

[@MartinHilpert]

Go for it!

[@Mark-ko8sc]

What about if I love all branches of linguistics?

[@ethandarrell8342]

Great resource! This video is incredibly informative and helpful!

[@cloud_melody]

Hi! Can I ask if can we consider Linguistics as a heart of language? and why?

[@the_linguist_ll]

Our terminology is awful. We'll have like 12 seperate terms for an obscure feature that only appears in one language, and isn't even agreed upon if it exists, yet we lack a term for a tense/aspect combination. (Screeve is more specific than just that) Don't get me started on perfect VS perfect VS perfective VS perfective

[@neirasworld]

Thank you so much, your videos are very useful and on top of that - interesting and there's even a bit of humour in them :D

[@sadafkhan1679]

Thank you so much! This cleared a lot of my doubts.

[@lemon__snicker5973]

Hello, my fellow cunning linguists! (Heh.) Any reference materials you could refer a would-be scholar? The coffers are a bit bone-dry these days, so maybe someday I'll study it formerly, but in the meantime, pending no tuition, any suggestions? I'll take anything, and can decide for myself if it's worth gleaning anything from even the arbitrarily obfuscated books, ironic but expected. Many thanks!

[@gesudinazaret9259]

How does one study linguistics on their own?

[@thestraightpath.5036]

many thanks, that was a pretty informative and useful video about linguistics.

[@suhadhussain5889]

Thanks alot professor. I am in need of your help, sir. Because of the institution I work in, I am supposed to do a thesis related to terminology and texts related mainly to the field of Medicine in relation to other fields of law, politics or economy. I don't know where to start from, which problem there that deserves to be a hypothesis for a PhD thesis that is worthy of study and can add something to knowledge. So, What is your advice in this regard? Do you have a suggestion for such type of study ? Best.

[@juliantide5665]

Which one is your mother tongue, German, French, Italien or Rhaeto-Romanic ?

[@MartinHilpert]

The first of those.

[@bhaskaranmahesh]

Great video, sir. I am a computer science engineering graduate, working in an IT company. I would like to switch my stream, and since I love learning about languages, I'm considering to get a masters in linguistics. But is it possible to do masters without any previous formal training? If yes, which are the best universities for it?

[@MartinHilpert]

Most universities will require a BA in linguistics or in a related field such as psychology or communication, but they sometimes allow you to register for the masters and catch up with BA courses during the first year. Good luck!

[@lokrajsharma6836]

Clear explanation. Very Good.

[@azilahjahari]

Thank you so much for this video.

[@fatemehkf5066]

Thanks for your informative video. Additionally I have a question and I'm really looking forward to hearing from you. I'm a master student of English teaching in Iran. Is it possible for me to apply to linguistic in Ph.D degree?

[@radiksafin5629]

Bashkir origin of the Latin word "arbiter" you can see here kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5q7XnucrbOFqaM

[@desekreayshawn]

this video is rlly helpful i think youve convinced me to study it!

[@farahfazli1375]

Thank you so much sir now I have a clear idea why I am studying Linguistics😊. Could you please make some videos on linguistics (syntax) based on Analysing syntax by Noel Burton-Roberts. Greetings from Holland 🌷

[@MartinHilpert]

Many thanks for your comment! Many students struggle with syntax, so I'll think about starting a short video series that demystifies the basic concepts and structures. In the meantime, there are three videos on syntax in the introduction playlist, and there's of course the Construction Grammar playlist, which deals with my preferred way of doing syntax.

[@farahfazli1375]

@@MartinHilpert thank you so much for considering my request. I will definitely see the videos described by you.

[@reethkitchards]

Thank you for your candor.

[@retalretal44]

That's what I have already discovered. The same idea is being renewed with newer terms

[@sim6221]

Thank you very much! I really like your channel!

[@verenaoliveira4321]

It seams incredible and very interesting indeed

[@sobanya_228]

I don't even know why would you go to university, dedicate your life when we have resources like your channel. Here you can learn a lot at your own pace and have fun

[@MartinHilpert]

To meet friends of course!

[@verenaoliveira4321]

It seams very Interesting Sametimes we are required tô have tô opinions is that not só,?

[@Anitta_B3rn4]

I love your channel. Greets from Mexico.

[@andresfelipemurillorestrep7141]

Warm greetings from Colombia! Thank you very much for all your videos!

[@BashirAhmad-tt5nm]

Thank you so much sir.its a wonderful video about linguistics.

[@NOOR4MUSLIMS]

Great elaborating professor 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@fluffy695]

These struggles are so real I can’t 😭

[@liamlau4558]

Thank you very much for this video Martin! I'm actually a Theoretical Physics student, and will be going on to do a PhD in physics, but I'm fascinated by how languages shape our societies and ideas. Your videos immensely help for me to explore this interest.

[@MartinHilpert]

Many thanks for your comment, Liam!

[@jorgechay1966]

Thank you very much it did help me a lot! USA

[@nisarullahlecturerinenglis4375]

Linguistics deals in language within various fields

[@yousfyousf4220]

Thanks for you my best teacher 🙂😘

[@carodb2692]

This is awesome! Thanks :)

[@trevorrol7930]

Animals do communicate it is called context communication.

[@TheAbbad]

love it... thank you Mr. Professor

[@angeloneto7853]

Greetings from brazil 🖐 Just lo e your channel.

[@bouthaynaabidi9411]

Absolutely accurate Good job

[@shikkithefirst5393]

Definitely not me (a linguistics major) watching this instead of studying for my exams

[@Adriana.Gabriela]

"Most linguistic texts are terrible to read." So ironical, but so true. Still, I wouldn't change what I majored in for the world 💕

[@chadb7694]

Hello. Nice videos. You seem to have adopted a neutral American accent yet you use British structures, like " study at University." Not sure how to describe that, lol.

[@MartinHilpert]

Thanks, Chad! The explanation is that my day-to-day linguistic input is very heterogeneous, with several L1 and L2 accents. Some of that shows up in my own speech.

[@gaurmondalacademy9500]

It is very usefull for me.

[@verenaoliveira4321]

It seams incredible It seams we have tô kwow manter y terminology by heart and even the strings words in dictionary It is amasing Brasil

[@verenaoliveira4321]

Thanks very much.

[@kakalotduongqua]

Thank you so much.

[@Mecutiesweetie]

„you will gain a fuller understanding of language?“ really? the more linguistics I learn, the more I do not understand how it works😅 too few demonstrating experiments in this field, and too many controversial ones

[@manoharank4412]

Great. Thank you.

[@malummabea]

I love this guy ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💯👏👏👏👏

[@trevorrol7930]

My dog used to communicate.

[@rwnbus]

13:18 14:36 This is hilarious 😂

[@verenaoliveira4321]

Brazil.

[@Lando-Calani]

16:06 wink, wink, heh. Very informative

[@eolann98]

yup the divine comedy

[@MartinHilpert]

Criminally underrated. Neil Hannon is a genius.

[@КасторПолидевк]

What? Я слушаю это на английском. Лингвисты - отвратительные писатели - сказано? Почему же???

[@thestraightpath.5036]

many thanks, that was a pretty informative and useful video about linguistics.