What is the job of a linguist? Who is a linguist? Specialty in linguistics - what to take, passing score, specialty code, form and duration of study

Linguist(linguist) is a specialist in linguistics (linguistics, linguistics), the subject of research of which is the history of the formation and development of languages, their structure and characteristic features. The profession is suitable for those who are interested in foreign languages ​​and Russian language and literature (see choosing a profession based on interest in school subjects).

Short description

The modern world is striving for globalization, and in the context of increasing international contacts, the profession of a linguist is acquiring fundamental importance. The work of a linguist includes a wide variety of functions and depends on the place of work:

• at the research institute he is engaged in the compilation of dictionaries, reference books, the development of scientific, technical and special terminology, the improvement of the alphabet and spelling, scientific research in the field of phonetics, morphology, syntax, the study of dialects and spoken language, etc.
• in teaching, a linguist teaches language to students;
• linguists-translators deal directly with translations - oral, simultaneous, written.

There are several classifications of linguists:

by language being studied:

• specialists in a specific language - for example, Russianists, Englishists, Tatar scholars, Japaneseists, Arabists, etc.;
• specialists in a group of languages ​​- Germanists, novelists, Turkologists, Mongolians, etc.;
• specialists in the languages ​​of the region - Americanists, Africanists, etc.

on the topic or section of linguistics:

• phoneticians;
• morphologists;
• syntaxists;
• semanticists, etc.

in theoretical direction:

• formalists;
• functionalists;
• cognitive scientists;
• structuralists, etc.

Specifics of the profession

The work of a linguist may consist of the following activities:

• teaching activities;
• consultations as an expert;
• research activities;
• preparation of specialized articles, textbooks, almanacs, etc.;
• assistance in creating computer software.

Where to study to become a linguist

Education in the field of linguistics consists of three areas:

• teaching training;
• theory and practice of translation;
• public communications.

Professional linguists are trained in philological (or specialized linguistic) faculties of universities.

Pros and cons of the profession

Pros:

• High demand in the labor market: the opportunity for self-realization in any field - written translation, simultaneous interpreter, oral or consecutive translation, translation of films, books, magazines. A person who speaks a foreign language will be in demand in any field of activity: journalism, tourism, PR companies, management.
• Knowledge of a foreign language is the key to a high salary and rapid career growth.
• Possibility of freelance work.
• The opportunity to freely communicate with people while traveling and study the culture of other countries.

Minuses:

• Some people may find the work of a linguist boring, since scientific works on linguistics are simply systematization and rewriting of other people's ideas.
• Not all linguists are inclined to teach, which requires maximum patience.
• The work of a simultaneous interpreter is very responsible and stressful.
• It is better to combine knowledge of foreign languages ​​with another profession (lawyer, economist, political scientist, journalist).
• Unstable loading: in different months the volume of transfers may differ several times.
• Delay in fees, which are not received immediately after delivery of the material, but when payment arrives from the customer.
• Sometimes additional requirements are imposed on translators: accompany delegations to shops and bars, carry out courier orders.

Place of work

• institutes, faculties and universities of linguistic education, secondary and higher educational institutions, courses for linguists;
• educational establishments;
• research institutes;
• translation agency;
• editorial offices of magazines and newspapers;
• reception desks in various companies (secretary assistant);
• work from home on a flexible schedule (translations) or individual work with students;
• literary unions;
• companies developing linguistic software;
• departments, external relations departments of firms, companies, higher educational institutions, regional, regional and city administrations;
• information departments, information and analytical services of enterprises, companies, banks, institutes of the Academy of Sciences, research centers;
• libraries and departments of foreign literature;
• museums, museum associations;
• direction and management in international congress centers (conference centers);
• Directorate of permanent regional, federal and international exhibitions and fairs;
• hotels and hotel complexes;
• domestic and foreign travel companies, agencies, bureaus;
• press centers, radio and television centers;
• international associations and associations;
• international funds;
• publishing houses.

Personal qualities

• good hearing and memory;
• patience and perseverance;
• attentiveness;
• good erudition;
• analytic skills;
• organization, self-discipline;
• pedantry;
• striving for professional excellence;
• attention to detail;
• concentration;
• the ability to figuratively represent objects, processes and phenomena;
• associative thinking;
• deductive reasoning;
• the ability to remember large amounts of information for a long time;
• good visual memory;
• memory for the semantics (meaning) of the text;
• memory for words and phrases;
• the ability to competently express one’s thoughts;
• perseverance;
• perseverance;
• propensity for research activities.

Career

Salary as of 08/06/2019

Russia 20000—60000 ₽

Moscow 30000—80000 ₽

As a rule, linguists do not have problems finding employment. Currently, linguists are in demand in the field of information technology, mass communications, public relations and advertising. A linguist can also make a successful career in the scientific field, achieving success in research development or promotion in the administrative line. For example, becoming the head of a department or dean of a faculty. The salary of a linguist depends on his type of activity and qualifications.

Earnings in science are low. It is more profitable for linguists to use their skills in business by becoming representatives in international companies, referents and translators. To translate foreign articles, prepare PR presentations or conduct promotions for foreign investors. Such work is highly paid - up to 70 thousand rubles.

Famous Russian linguists

The science of linguistics is not limited to simply memorizing foreign languages. It teaches you to understand the essence and culture of speakers of different dialects, studies the history of the development of this universal means of communication, its characteristics, and original features. If you know this, then the question of who you can work with as a linguist simply will not arise.

The typical assumption that a language specialist can work in a translation agency is true. But this type of vacancy does not limit the range of options where a linguist translator can work. There are plenty of places where such an expert can get a job. The top 10 most prestigious examples might look like this.

• Embassies and consulates.
• Advertising department of major global brands. The same Coca-Cola company has a whole staff of competent translators.
• Scientific research institutes.
• Historical universities.
• Reputable universities.
• Since a linguist studies the mentality of speakers of different languages, there is a place for him in publishing bureaus and newspapers.
• Developers of special software also need good translators.
• Notary and legal agencies.
• Insurance companies. Lloyd's of London maintains a department of 120 linguists.
• Hotel centers, resort complexes (much depends on where to study).

Knowledge and skills of a future linguist

What do you need to know to work in such prestigious places?

• The culture of the native people of the dialect.
• History of the language.
• Philosophy.
• It is very important to be able to quickly analyze and compare facts in order to understand the speech of your interlocutor.
• A good memory is a defining quality in the linguist profession.
• Well-practiced diction guarantees high demand and active participation in all kinds of negotiations.
• If you are looking for where linguists interested in modern technologies work, then you should master the basics of programming, computer science, the so-called computer (or even gaming) language in order to be able to work as a translator for Dota 2 competitions.

Income and relevance of personnel in the labor market

The amount of earnings of a linguist depends entirely on his activity. The average salary for 2017 (Moscow) was 55 thousand rubles. The range is from 40 to 120 thousand monthly.

In Europe, a foreign language expert earns up to 6–10 thousand euros per month. For the USA, this figure fluctuates around 7–12 thousand dollars. The demand for competent linguists is much higher here. Although in Russia the number of vacancies has been at around 25 thousand for five years now (this is a daily figure).

Advantages of the profession

A huge advantage of linguistic education is its interdisciplinary nature. The employment of a future linguist is not tied to his profession; he can work anywhere. Other advantages of the profile:

• employer demand;
• getting a high income;
• useful skills;
• communicative nature;
• extensive network of connections;
• work often involves travel;
• there is no ceiling on career growth.

Studying at the Faculty of Linguistics

Are you looking for where to get an education in this field? The Faculty of Linguistics at Synergy has been working for more than 20 years, and its graduates have not yet encountered employment problems. Because we do not train as philologists according to the patterns of the past. Our students are experts of the new era. The best teachers work with them - linguists, authors of at least 10 scientific works with experience in translation.

A deep immersion in history, culture, and the philosophy of dialect development is the foundation on which our young specialists grow. They not only know a foreign language, but also know how to use it and improve it. The program includes a separate block for annotating and editing written translation texts, the basics of special translation, and the theory of interlingual communication.

There are many people who choose language learning as their profession. It is precisely these specialists that we know as linguists. Find out what they do and how in demand this profession is.

Average salary: 25,000 rubles per month

Demand

Payability

Competition

Entry barrier

Prospects

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of language in our lives. Without it there would be no full communication. We all studied our native and foreign languages ​​at school. We were taught a brief history of the language, basic spelling, and sentence structure. We all have basic knowledge in this area. Linguists are those who have dedicated their entire lives to studying languages.

The science of languages ​​has a long history. Alphabets and even classifications began to be compiled even before our era. The pioneers in this area were scientists from Ancient Greece and China, Arab countries and India. Nowadays, a large number of people consider linguistics their calling.

Description of the profession

The profession of a linguist is considered to be widespread. The activities of this specialist are not related to the creation of a specific product. When studying at a higher educational institution, future linguists study the structure and history of language, as well as philosophy and cultural studies, since linguistics is at the intersection of sciences. Many people find working in the language learning field boring. Actually they are wrong. Linguistics is an interesting science, you just need to have a thirst for knowledge, inquisitiveness and perseverance.

Linguists can study some section of the language, for example, morphology, vocabulary, word formation. Another specialization is the study of a language as a whole or a group of related languages. There are specialists in language theory: structuralists, cognitive scientists, etc.

The usual work of a linguist is scientific and teaching activities, preparation and review of textbooks, intercultural communication and translation. However, now linguists are quite in demand in the field of software development: after all, a programming language is also a system of signs with construction principles common to all languages.

Directions, specialties and educational institutions according to the profile of training

Russian linguistics has a long tradition and is represented in universities by an extensive list of areas. This is linguistics itself, fundamental and applied, philology, translation and translation studies, as well as a relatively new direction - intellectual systems in the humanitarian environment

Each region has higher education institutions offering at least one relevant program. Therefore, it makes sense to list only leading universities.

Who is it suitable for?

If you consider yourself to be one of the people who have attentiveness, good memory, patience and perseverance, deductive and associative thinking, perseverance and perseverance, then this profession is for you. In this profession, a penchant for research, perseverance and perseverance, an inquisitive mind, and the desire for excellence are important. If you have all these qualities, then you should choose linguistics as a profession.

Wage

The salary of a linguist varies widely. It all depends on the field in which the specialist will work. Teachers, lecturers, secretaries and assistants receive an average salary. Translators, employees of printed publications, and large international commercial organizations earn much more.

Career and prospects

A successful career also largely depends on the chosen specialty. Linguists have quite a lot of prospects, since there are now many areas in which the knowledge of such specialists is extremely useful. It is important to choose the right niche here. Then career growth and high salaries will be ensured.

Linguistics can be considered one of the most complex, but at the same time one of the most interesting humanities. Why? Firstly, because without knowledge of foreign languages ​​today it is difficult to achieve success in the professional field. Secondly, modern society strives to speak their native language correctly. And thirdly, many people today are interested not only in “living” (, but also in “dead” languages. That is why the profession of a linguist can safely be considered one of the most popular and interesting.

Linguistics can be considered one of the most complex, but at the same time one of the most interesting humanities. Why? Firstly, because without knowledge of foreign languages ​​today it is difficult to achieve success not only in the professional field, but sometimes also on the personal front. Secondly, modern society strives not only to speak its native language correctly, but also to know the history of its origin. And thirdly, many today are interested not only in “living” languages ​​(those that we use), but also in “dead” languages ​​that our ancestors once used. That is why linguist profession can easily be considered one of the most popular and interesting.

It is quite natural that, along with the demand, the popularity of this profession among applicants is growing. Moreover, when applying to a university to major in linguist, many people only roughly understand what kind of profession it is, what personal qualities a true professional should have, and what “dividends” this profession can bring in the future. But a conscious choice of profession is the first step towards a prosperous and happy life. And you have every chance to take this first step after familiarizing yourself with all the features of the linguist profession.

Who is a linguist?

– a highly qualified specialist in linguistics and linguistics who thoroughly understands the history of the formation and development of languages, knows their structure and characteristic features: the semantic structure of words, the compatibility of lexical units, phraseological units, phonetic and grammatical structure, etc. Let us note that these specialists study not only the current languages ​​of the world, but also those that have not been used for a long time.

The name of the profession comes from the Latin lingua (language, speech), which directly indicates the field of activity of a linguist. The first mention of linguists dates back to the 5th century BC. Presumably, it was during this period that the foundations of modern linguistics were laid in India. But the rapid development of linguistics as a science began only in the first half of the 21st century.

It must be said that linguistics and linguistics continue to actively develop today. Well, since linguistics covers all issues related to languages ​​in one way or another, which are almost impossible to study within one specialty, modern linguists are usually qualified by:

• section or topic linguistics(for example, morphologists are specialists who study the morphology of language, phoneticians who specialize in the study of phonetics, etc.);
• the language or group of languages ​​being studied (for example, Germanists, Russianists, Tatar scholars, Americanists, Caucasus scholars, etc.);
• theoretical direction (structuralists - specialize in the study of the formal structure and organization of language, cognitivists - study the problems of the relationship between language and human consciousness, etc.).

The main responsibilities of a linguist, regardless of specialization and area of ​​activity, are: participation in the compilation of educational literature (including dictionaries and grammars), studying the language within the framework of specialization, formulating language “norms”, comparing languages, isolating individual dialects and identifying historical or territorial similarities and differences, provision of advisory services, research on the influence of language on society, etc.

What personal qualities should a linguist have?

Linguistics is not just the study of foreign languages ​​and their history. Simultaneously with learning a language, you need to comprehend its structure, characteristic subtleties and features in the context of individual cultures. That is, during the learning process (and even during work), a linguist needs to “cover” a huge amount of information, and therefore he will need such personal qualities as:

Moreover, in order to become a linguist, you need to know literature, the basics of linguistics, philosophy, economics, ethnography, culture and history of those countries whose languages ​​are being studied, possess computer technology at a high level (especially if the specialist’s field of activity is aimed at studying artificial languages), show great interest in such sciences, like history, law and philosophy.

Advantages of being a linguist

Main advantage of being a linguist is its versatility. Linguistic education “opens” the doors to a fairly wide range of professions: assistant, translator, interpreter-referent, teacher, language researcher, intercultural communications specialist, etc. Naturally, each of these professions is not narrowly focused and implies wide scope for further development.

The advantages of this profession also include the opportunity to study the cultures of other countries while traveling and communicating with a variety of people. At the same time, it is not at all necessary for a specialist to get a specific job - a qualified linguist can easily ensure a comfortable existence for himself while working “freely” (that is, working as a freelancer).

And most importantly, perfect command of at least one foreign language opens up almost unlimited opportunities for both career growth and solving personal issues (for example, moving to another country for permanent residence).

Disadvantages of being a linguist

Talking about disadvantages of the linguist profession First of all, it is necessary to note some monotony and tediousness of the work. This is especially true for scientific works, the essence of which for the most part comes down not only to conducting one’s own research, but also to systematizing and studying already published works on linguistics. By the way, specialists working in the research field, as a rule, cannot boast of high salaries, which is also a significant drawback of this profession. Those linguists who chose to use their skills in business, although they receive more than decent payment for their services (up to 70 thousand rubles per month), cannot always count on timely payment of fees.

We cannot remain silent about the fact that most linguist specializations are characterized by stressful working conditions. In particular, the work of a translator is almost always associated with very high responsibility and great physical stress (sometimes a translator has to spend 8-10 hours a day on his feet), and teaching is inextricably linked with the highest moral and psychological stress.

Where can you become a linguist?

Get a profession as a linguist It is possible in any higher educational institution where there is a philology department or training in the specialty “linguist” is provided. However, this is only the first step towards mastering this profession. Since a linguist is a highly qualified specialist, it will be possible to declare oneself as a real professional only after completing graduate school. And, of course, any self-respecting linguist is constantly engaged in self-education and does not forget to improve his skills.

A linguist is a specialist who studies certain languages, their history and current trends in development. Specialists in the field of linguistics are often involved in translations and teaching. They can easily work as guides in tourist groups consisting of foreigners.

The first linguistic specialists appeared before our era. At first, they sought to understand the features of their native language and identify the patterns by which it was formed. Also, linguists of that time were faced with the task of developing rules according to which people should speak and write.

This is interesting! Archaeologists have found an ancient Phaistos disk, which is an important monument of writing. It is believed that it was created during the era of the Minoan culture, but the exact period of its appearance is unknown.

Many specialists and ordinary people were studying and deciphering records on the surface of the disk. But no one could explain exactly what was written on it. And none of the definitions has been officially recognized by scientists. The fact is that the inscription on the disk is very brief, and the cultural monument itself is one of a kind. It is assumed that the message will be decipherable after alternative monuments of the same culture are discovered.

Ferdinand de Saussure

In the 19th-20th centuries. Linguistics developed very actively. Moreover, a breakthrough was made not only in the theory of linguistics: morphology, semantics, etc. - but also in applied fields. These include lexicography, stylistics, and linguistic expertise (the latter branch is part of judicial practice).

Officially, the Frenchman Ferdinand de Saussure, a specialist from Switzerland, is considered the father of linguistics. Wikipedia talks about this. He is the person who had a positive influence on the development of this science in the 20th century. He is the author of the “Course of General Linguistics,” which describes in detail the significance of this science.

Linguistics and Philology

Linguistics is often confused with philology. This should not be done, because these specialists approach language learning completely differently. Philology is a humanities science. In it you can find assumptions based on intuition. - opponents of replacing words of the native language with foreign words and expressions.

Linguists take this phenomenon calmly. For them it's just a reason to watch.

True, philologists and linguists have approximately the same chances of finding a job. The exception is those vacancies that require specific knowledge. For example, a philologist will not be able to work in the field of computational linguistics.

Useful video: linguistics

Where do linguists work?

Linguistics specialists can realize themselves in various fields. This is a profession that is in great demand on the labor market today. Specialists with excellent knowledge of languages ​​can work in travel companies, hotels, museums, and translate texts.

They are engaged in research and science in companies that analyze and process texts, are engaged in machine translation recognition, developments in the field of artificial intelligence and search technologies.

Many people are interested in how much linguists earn. This is a fairly highly paid profession. A translator receives approximately 30-50 thousand rubles per month for his work. And in the field of information technology you can earn more - 60-100 thousand.

What does a linguist do?

The responsibilities of a linguist include a variety of functions depending on who exactly he works and where:

• in research institutes, linguists compile reference books, dictionaries, and develop special terminology;
• linguist teachers teach languages ​​to students;
• translators translate texts from one language to another, translations can be written, simultaneous or oral.

Not every person can do this kind of work. This requires certain qualifications. A linguist must have an appropriate higher education and be well versed in the areas of morphology, syntax, and semantics of the language in which he specializes. Also, specialists in this field are required to be able to analyze texts and have good computer skills.

Important! Linguists working in the field of information technology must have an excellent knowledge of programming languages.

It is expected that by 2020 a new profession, “digital linguist,” will emerge—a developer of semantic translation systems who pays close attention to the meaning and context of expressions. This specialist will have to process texts, carry out semantic searches on the network and develop new possible ways of communication between a computer and a person. Science does not stand still, and, most likely, the linguist profession will remain no less in demand in the near future.

Linguist teacher teaches languages ​​to students

What to take for applicants

At the beginning of the 11th grade, future graduates start thinking about what subjects they will need to take to enter the linguistic department.

Requirements for those wishing to become a linguist vary depending on the university. But it is still possible to identify some general trends. Usually upon admission they are required to provide exam results in Russian and foreign languages, as well as literature. Some higher education institutions include geography and mathematics in their list of subjects.

It is better to check the exact list of items with the institution you plan to enroll in. . It's better to do this in advance so you have time to prepare. Some establishments accept students based on tests.

In any case, you will have to ask yourself whether you can pass the Russian language. If you know this subject “excellently” and do not have pronounced speech defects, you can try your hand at linguistics.

Note! It is interesting that in linguistics there are two directions - fundamental and applied. The difference between them is very significant.

The first deals with theory. Applied linguistics is also a science that studies languages. She solves practical problems that help you learn a language well and use linguistic theory in practice in a variety of industries. A linguist must have knowledge of fundamental linguistics and be able to apply it in practice.

Theoretical linguistics deals with the study of rules and laws of language and collecting them into separate theories. There are also normative and general linguistics. The first formulates clear rules - how to write. The second studies the common features of each language. In doing so, it develops methods of analysis and provides definitions of various concepts.

Useful video: applied linguistics

Conclusion

So, linguistics is a very popular profession today. Specialists in the field of linguistics are required in a variety of fields, and their work is decently paid. That is why graduates should pay attention to this profession and carefully prepare to pass the necessary exams.

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