Linguistics

God has designed language as a beautiful and complex system that reveals His glory and communicates the living word. Our ability to use language is an important part of our identity as God's image-bearers and a vital tool for our work in His kingdom. The goals of the linguistics program at Covenant College are to help students gain deeper insight into the nature and significance of language and learn a set of practical skills for applying this knowledge in service to God and others.

 

What is linguistics?

Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguists make and test hypotheses about language in order to answer questions like: How do we produce and combine sounds? How do we build words and sentences? How do we get meaning out of language? How do we understand language in context? How do social factors like age and social status influence language use and perception? How does language change over time? How do children and adults learn language?

 

Why should I study linguistics?

Human language is a dynamic and fascinating part of the created order—that’s reason enough! Studying linguistics is also an excellent way to improve your skills in analytical reasoning, argumentation, and critical thinking. Beyond this, understanding linguistics helps with learning foreign languages and with a wide variety of careers.

 

What can I do with linguistics?

Linguists work in many areas, including advertising, anthropology, artificial intelligence, community development, computer science, defense, education, foreign language, forensics, interpretation, language documentation, law, lexicography, speech-language pathology, technology, TESOL, theater, translation, and writing.

 

How can I find out more about linguistics at Covenant?

Information about the linguistics minor and our linguistics courses is available in the academic catalog. Students interested in linguistics and related fields such as Bible translation and speech therapy should contact Dr. Nola Hecker about opportunities on campus and beyond. Students interested in teaching English to speakers of other languages should consider our TESOL certificate program and contact Dr. Brianne Stambaugh for more information.