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English, Linguistics, and Writing Studies

Park Linguistics Class

Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguists study all aspects of language: from the structure of sounds and words to sentences, to how those sentences are used to perform actions in the world. Linguists are also interested in relationships between language and cognition, language and society, and language acquisition in children and second language learners.

As the only Bachelor of Science in Linguistics in the state of Minnesota, the program at UMD has particular strengths in syntax, morphology, cognitive linguisticssemantics/pragmatics, and sociolinguistics.

In addition, we have a special interest in the languages and linguistic variations of Minnesota, including the Iron Range, languages of recent immigrants, and Minnesota English in all its past and present glory.