A blog about languages and linguistics

Archives for March 2023

Linguistics

8 English Degree Jobs for a Surprisingly Unique Career Path

Are you exploring English degree jobs besides teaching and translation? Are you wondering if your English degree is worth it? It certainly is, and lucky for you, there are plenty of options! I hope this lists brings you closer to choosing your next career path. The sky’s the limit! I’m not just saying this just to say it—I have a degree in English, and I did teach English as a Second Language. After a while, I started developing an interest in IT and marketing, and then chose to start a career in digital marketing instead. You can do it, too! In order to make this list, I actually got inspired by other English (and linguistics) majors in my life, as well as myself, so this is far from just speculation.

Without further ado, let’s explore my well-researched list of English degree jobs you can do as an English major (that no one’s talking about, and they should):

1. UX Designer

What is UX Design? In simple terms, it’s the process of making websites and apps easy and enjoyable to use for people. There’s a very cool thread here you may want to check out, where people discuss different paths that lead them to a career in UX Design. My favorite one is the person that has a degree in Playwriting who explains how it actually helped them understand a user’s motivations and how to create personas! You will need to have a strong interest in technology, though, but I think that goes without saying.

2. Technical Writer

A technical writer is responsible for creating clear and concise technical documents. Some of these documents include instruction manuals, user guides, technical reports… Your role as a technical writer is to take complex information and translate it into language that can be easily understood by non-technical audiences (your mom, for example). If you choose this career path, you’ll work closely with engineers and other subject-matter experts to create documents. So cool! Many of my English major friends who started out as technical writers moved onto UX Design, which is something to think about as well.

3. Travel Guide

Here’s something if you’re just not crazy about the tech jobs I mentioned, and you love traveling! The truth is that most travel agencies don’t require a specific field for you to become a tour guide. Plus, with a degree in English, you’re likely to have amazing communication skills. Here’s an example of someone’s journey to becoming a tour guide. Also, there is a very cool course a lot of people are talking about, as I see it mentioned in almost every post about becoming a tour guide (I’m doing a lot of research for you guys). Here’s the link to the course.

4. Content Marketer

As an English major, you have a great understanding of how words work. So, how about using your word wizardry to promote a brand? Also, all that effort spent on doing research for your paper on Shakespeare’s plays puts you at a serious advantage, as research skills are extremely valuable in content marketing. You’ll need to know all about your audience so that you can effectively market your content. Not only that, but you’ll also have to be adaptable to different kinds of audiences, and with your well-rounded writing skills it’ll be a piece of cake.

5. SEO Specialist

You’re like…what the heck, what does SEO mean? Or maybe you’re not, and I’m just blabbering. Anyway, SEO means Search Engine Optimization, and it’s a fascinating field if you love writing, analytics, and you don’t shy away from a bit of code. Who wouldn’t like to have developers and copywriters as their best work buddies? As an SEO Specialist, you’ll optimize content for search engines such as Google. I find SEO amazing because you can decide what kind you want to specialize in. Check out the different types here. Also, as an SEO person myself, I recommend FREE courses from SEMrush that helped me get started.

6. Web Developer

Okay, here me out on this one…you can’t expect yourself to be able to code and create web programs straight out of college with an English degree. But that doesn’t mean you can’t choose to follow a nontraditional career path and become a web developer. My friends certainly have, and even I can do a bit of code, without a degree in computer science. You’ll have to do a course, or maybe a couple of courses, but it’s totally doable. There are a lot of free options that I just love, such as CodeCademy. There is an absolutely amazing article about becoming a dev with an English degree, here’s the link.

7. HR

My very own best friend has a degree in linguistics and is now working in Human Resources as a Talent Acquisition Specialist. Most employers consider graduates of any subject, and here’s an article that talks about it. English majors usually have great communication skills and a lot of empathy, which is essential for any career in HR, as you’ll be dealing with real people on an everyday basis.

8. Creative Director

Do you have an eye for art? Along with other skills you’ll naturally acquire as an English major (communication, writing, critical thinking), this makes you the perfect fit for the career path of a creative director. You’ll also get to manage projects, teams, and budgets to make sure campaigns are executed on time. Here’s a wonderful article on SkillShare where actual creative directors share how you can become one as well, as well as the steps to follow.

That’s it for my list of English degree jobs that are different from the ones you hear about every day. I hope you have a better idea of what career path you want to follow now. Feel free to reach out to me in the comments with any questions!

Linguistics

Linguistics 101: 5 Essential Things You Need to Know

Linguistics is a fascinating field that studies language and its structure. How cool, right? The study dates back to the 19th century when a Swiss linguist, Ferdinand de Saussure, made significant contributions to the field with his groundbreaking book “Course in General Linguistics.”

Let’s explore what it means, as well as branches of linguistics, types of linguistics, and language vs linguistics. This is going to be a very down-to-earth article that everyone can understand, because I think knowledge should be accessible to everyone 😊

After reading this article, you’ll be fully equipped to impress your teachers, or maybe embark on a linguistic adventure of your own and become part of the linguistic society! My adventure started seven years ago when I decided to major in English, during which time I studied this field extensively.

two women talking about linguistics and its branches

What is Linguistics?

It is the scientific study of language and all its aspects, including phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics. For a Cambridge Dictionary definition, click here. In simple terms, it’s the study of how we use words and sounds to talk to each other. Think of it as the CSI of language—linguists are basically detectives that study different clues to understand how language works. So, the purpose of linguistics is to understand how language works, how it is used by individuals (but also communities), and how it influences how we see the world. To achieve this, it draws on various different areas such as anthropology, psychology, and computer science. It’s such an all-encompassing field that it’s really hard not to geek out on a daily basis. I certainly do!

Branches of Linguistics

5 branches of linguistics explained

It has several branches, and each one focuses on a different aspect of language. The 5 most studied branches are:

  • Phonetics – the study of speech sounds and their physical properties
  • Morphology – the study of the structure of words and how they are formed
  • Syntax – the study of the structure of sentences and how they are organized
  • Semantics – the study of the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences
  • Phonology – the study of how sounds are used in language

However, there are many other ones, such as language acquisition, and conversation analysis.

Different types

The types of linguistics shouldn’t be confused with branches—the former refers to different approaches or perspectives in linguistics, and the latter to different areas of study. Some of the most common types are:

  • Descriptive linguistics
  • Theoretical linguistics
  • Neurolinguistics
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Applied Linguistics

Some of these types also have their subtypes. For example, forensic linguistics is a subtype that I actually wrote a cool article about, so check it out!

Language vs Linguistics

I see these terms used interchangeably at times, but they are not. To put it simply, language is a system of communication, while linguistics is the study of that system. The former is the phenomena, and we use the latter to study that phenomena. Easy, right?

Benefits of Studying This Field

Benefit number one of studying linguistics…you get to become a language geek! I’m pretty sure you’ll be the coolest person at every party you’re invited to. No, seriously, the benefits are endless. To name a few:

  • Improved communication skills – you’ll know how language actually works, so you’ll be able to apply that knowledge more naturally
  • Better analytical skills – the study of language is a science and science needs to be analyzed, so think math, graphs, Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory etc.
  • Career opportunities – and I’m not talking about translation, teaching (which are, of course, an option), get ready to explore a wide range of fields!
  • Personal growth – I’m so passionate about linguistics & language that I get to own a blog where I talk about these topics!

That is it, you guys. By now, you should have a solid understanding of what this field is all about, and who knows, maybe you’ll decide to study it as well (welcome to the geek club). I assure you that it’s not only fascinating, but also incredibly rewarding!