Students of (applied) linguistics

[革命者]

Hi friends,

I was wondering if any of you are doing linguistics at university—undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, whatever.

I couldn't help noticing that at least a few members on the forums now have an interest in or are linguistics students.

From a philosophical point of view it would be interesting to somehow link linguistics/language to changing society.

We might be able to start a group here on revleft.


Best,

Scotty

[Wanted Man]

I study English, and we do have linguistics as a subject. So far, we've dealt with syntax, lexicon and phonology. Not my favourite subject though.

[LeninBalls]

I study French and Spanish, but I can't exactly see the link between languages and changing socities apart from regional cultural differences, if that's what you're asking.

[RHIZOMES]

There are some sociological theories that incorporate language as a key component of it's analysis, however I've been awake too long to fully explain any of them right now...

[革命者]

I study French and Spanish, but I can't exactly see the link between languages and changing socities apart from regional cultural differences, if that's what you're asking.Well, language is an important means by which we transfer our values, norms and beliefs to other people. If you believe capital to be more than the resources to produce material stuff, but also the skills, if you like, to exert power onto people to influence them (into (re)producing what you want them to; reproduce a culture in "an economy of practices") then how skillful you are at using language is a big part of (cultural) capital.

This is only one of the many views in which language has a major influence on society. The above view is postulated by Pierre Bourdieu. It's based on/part of conflict theory, like Marxism.

[革命者]

I study English, and we do have linguistics as a subject. So far, we've dealt with syntax, lexicon and phonology. Not my favourite subject though.Are you talking about Generative Syntax or "just" classical syntax? Or any other variety?

It's basically, in my opinion, just that if you look at the role language plays in society and the effect society has on language it becomes very interesting.

So, what it can and cannot do, why some people use it the way they do, how they consciously and subconsciously use it and why, and what that means for their status, credibility and such. And I am not just talking rhetoric, but also the more "intrinsic" qualities of language, if you like.