Best language major to compliment Linguistics

drudkh · 09-28-2009, 08:15 PM

Languages are my passion, and I want to go into education/research/academia. I know I want to major in linguistics, but I want to double major in a foreign language. Although I'm interested in Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic, and others, I know it comes down to German or Russian.
I've been studying German for a couple years on and off, and I've reached an intermediate level. It's a fun language and I enjoy the culture (I studied in Vienna this summer), but my biggest complaints are the dialectical differences, nonsensical genders, and lack of international spread. I developed a deep interest in Russian over the past year through reading Russian literature, and I've come to love the language and culture. I've studied it briefly, and my only issues with Russian seem to be complexity of it's grammar and it being used almost exclusively in a region that isn't very accessible to tourists/students (I want to study abroad, teach ESL, and perhaps live for a while in the country of my target language).
As you can see, I'm in a pickle. I love both, but I want to focus on one and continue with it to fluency. Which language is more useful in education/academia, and also in everyday life/travel? Any advice is appreciated, thank you.

Gil · 09-29-2009, 12:54 AM

Both, or maybe German and something more unfamiliar than Russian. I'm not a linguistics student, but I heard that linguistics majors are advised to study at least one language that is very different from your first and second languages. Perhaps Mandarin or Japanese. I recommend German because a lot of research is done in the language and it has much to teach you about your presumably native language, English - and there's nothing like learning about languages by familiarizing yourself with the language in which you think. And as a classics major, I would ask you to give Greek or Latin a thought too.

grapico · 09-29-2009, 08:16 PM

the languages are only useful in what you want to do...
in general eng/span/fre are the top three for most used.

in academia it is going to be english/french/german/latin/greek

german will be the easiest transition for pure fluency from english, as they are both germanic languages.

might I suggest a non language major to compliment linguistics such as psychology (cognitive) or philosophy of language, philosophy of mind.
At many top programs, these are common doubles...

pulled some examples for you

http://college.usc.edu/ling/undergraduate/major.cfm
http://linguistics.uconn.edu/undergr...orlingphi.html
http://web.mit.edu/linguistics/

the best way to get fluent is not through majoring ... it would probably be better and a faster route just to go live in a foreign country.

I agree with Gil on studying something completely unrelated to your host language (mandarin/arabic/japanese)... I think most native speakers of english can pick up germanic or romance language without classes.

Dionysus58 · 10-01-2009, 12:30 AM

What one do you enjoy more and do you have particular interests related to either Germanic or Slavic families? They're really the only things you need to consider. Don't take Russian if you think it'll be more beneficial if your heart is with German.

Oh and German has huge international importance in Europe (especially the East) so dont think you're confining yourself to Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Gil, what use is there in a linguist learning Arabic if they're intersted in North Germanic etymology? None. The field of Linguistics is as varied as there are languages. If the OP enjoys (and therefore far more likely to reach fluency) Russian or German its stupid to suggest that they should concentrate on another language, or another subject entirely.

Quote:

the best way to get fluent is not through majoring ... it would probably be better and a faster route just to go live in a foreign country.

Whilst that is true (to an extent), it isn't practical for non-EU citizens. Majoring in a language and spending time studying abroad is really the best option in the OPs case.

Quote:

I think most native speakers of english can pick up germanic or romance language without classes.

Sorry to be blunt, but you think wrongly.

wjhsxc · 10-02-2009, 10:46 AM

I'm majoring in linguistics as well, and German is my favorite language. But I'm taking Arabic-I've heard it said that German isn't the most useful since half the time people that know German probably know English as well. I would go with Russian.

Sligh_Anarchist · 10-02-2009, 12:57 PM

^ I've a similar situation, although I am still undeclared. German is by far my favorite language, but I'm also taking classical Arabic right now. As someone else said, linguistics is as varied as the languages themselves. According to one of my Arabic professors, Arabic is of prime interest to linguists specializing in morphology.

b@r!um · 10-02-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

German is by far my favorite language

Good choice

Jeremybeach · 10-06-2009, 04:36 PM

Hey!
I'd say ANY language that you feel passionate about is one worth majoring in.
I am also a prospective linguistics major

I thought about japanese but I don't want to look back on it years later and have my opinion of it be tainted by the pressure of trying to achieve a certain grade. you know what I mean?
I might go for general linguistics.
btw--what EXACTLY do you study as a major int his? ii'm confused actually haha. i love languages--if this is sciency, i might not do it.

Dionysus58 · 10-06-2009, 04:39 PM

You want to major in it, but you don't know what it is? Yes, linguistics has quite a bit of science.

wjhsxc · 10-07-2009, 11:34 AM

"btw--what EXACTLY do you study as a major int his? ii'm confused actually haha. i love languages--if this is sciency, i might not do it."

linguistics is the science of language. it's very sciency.