Linguistics and Modern Languages

Linguistics

This course enables you to delve into the science of language - an everyday phenomenon which impacts our lives on an individual and a global scale. You will explore the sounds and structure of languages across the globe, studying topics such as how languages change over time; how children acquire their first language; how language varies between different groups of people and across regions; how we communicate as individuals and within groups; what languages across the world have in common and how they differ; and what happens when speakers of different languages come into contact.

With its diverse local communities, Manchester is an ideal site for carrying out research on linguistic variation and multilingualism. We have two laboratories, where ultrasound imaging, laryngography and eye tracking technology are used for staff and student research projects. You'll also be able to learn quantitative methods and use large language corpora, skills which you'll then be able to apply to other fields throughout your life.

Language learning

You will join a pathway for your chosen language:

The beginner pathway is for students, who do not have any foundation in the language. Some students are complete beginners. Some students may have undertaken some language learning. For example, a UK student who studied a language in Years 7 and 8 at secondary school.

The intermediate pathway is for students, who have a good foundation in the language, and have the equivalent of an A-level in their chosen language.

The advanced pathway is for students, who are already fluent and proficient in their chosen language.

French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish have beginner and intermediate pathways. Arabic has a beginner pathway only. Chinese and Russian have beginner, intermediate, and advanced pathways.

The language you choose will be reflected in your degree title. For example BA (Hons) Linguistics and Modern Languages (Portuguese).

The language learning course units are designed to develop your skills of reception (reading and listening), production (speaking and writing), and translation. For some languages, you will be learning different alphabets and scripts – Modern Standard Arabic, Cyrillic (Russian), Mandarin (Chinese), and Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji (Japanese).

Class sizes are small and led by academics, who are a mix of native speakers, and English speakers who are fluent in the language. Using your language throughout the week really accelerates your learning and we encourage you to use it socially. For example, by joining student societies that enable you to meet students from different countries and following social media influencers and media channels for your chosen language.

World cultures

Alongside your language learning, you’ll also attend lectures and seminars that explore the history, literature, politics, and current affairs of your chosen country. Our students find that this part of their degree really broadens their understanding of where different languages are spoken and their cultural resonance.

Timetable

Each year you take 120 credits of course units. In Year 1, these credits are divided between your chosen language and Linguistics. In Years 2 and 4, you can include 20 credits, per year, as a ‘free choice’. This free choice can be a course unit from another subject area in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures or the University College of Interdisciplinary Learning.

Year 1: Languages (60 credits); Linguistics (60 credits)

Year 2: Languages (40 or 60 credits); Linguistics (40, 60 or 80 credits); Free choice unit (0 or 20 credits)

Year 3: Residence Abroad year. You will live in a country where your chosen language is spoken.

Year 4: Languages (40 or 60 credits); Linguistics (40, 60 or 80 credits); Free choice unit (0 or 20 credits)

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2027/21900/ba-linguistics-and-modern-languages/