Entry Level Qualification 

12

Career Fields 

Humanities, Liberals Arts & Social Science

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

CUET UG

About Career 

You will study languages – how different languages originated, how they evolved over the ages, the different properties of speech and languages, and how they change and develop. You will apply your knowledge in various areas – from History and Anthropology to Sociology and Computer Science.  

As a Linguist, you will research and study about the following areas and many other areas:

1. Phonetics - Phonetics is the study of sound of human speech. It is concerned with the actual human sounds, how they are produced and perceived.

2. Phonology - Phonology deals with how different sounds of speech are organized systematically to form and convey what one wants to say.

3. Syntax - Syntax deals with how words and phrases are arranged and structured using grammatical rules to form meaningful sentences.

4. Semantics - It deals with the study of semiotics which is the science of conveying meaning thorough signs, symbols, analogies and metaphors. It studies how meaning is conveyed in languages by use of words, signs and symbols.

5. Pragmatics - It is a part of semantics and involves study of context or situation which influences the meaning of spoken and written languages.

6. Morphology - It studies how the words are formed and their relationship to other words. For example, it examines the structure of words- the prefixes, suffixes, root words etc.

7. Discourse analysis - This involves the analysis of discourses in languages- written, spoken or sign languages.

Keys Roles and Responsibilities

As a Linguist, you can be engaged in any one and more of the following roles and responsibilities:

1. You will study and research in your specialized area of Linguist to publish research papers on theories of Linguistic or applications of Linguistic in different fields such as Cryptology, Natural Language Processing (an area of Computational Science), Human Development, etc.

2. You will work with Computer Scientists and Engineers to help them develop speech recognition software, text-to-speech software, algorithm for developing Artificial Intelligence in human language processing, and so on.

3. You will help government departments, defense forces, and business enterprises interpret foreign language; help intelligence agencies to decipher coded language; help police and investigative agencies in interpreting communication of alleged criminals to gather evidences.

4. You will Help Historians and Archaeologists in interpreting ancient languages; help Anthropologists in understanding a tribal language; help Development Workers to use appropriate languages to communicate with a community or tribe.

5. Teaching regional and foreign languages to students and others.

6. Compile terminology and information to be used in translations, including technical terms such as those for legal or medical material.

7. And many other work related to interpretation of language.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Language /Linguistics – PG & further study

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in a Language/Linguistics followed by a master’s degree in Linguistics.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Humanities – PG & further study

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Anthropology/ Sociology/ Psychology/ or similar field followed by a master’s degree in Linguistics

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies - UG in Physical Sciences/Engineering – PG & further study

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Physics/Mathematics/Computer Science/Engineering / Similar field followed by a master’s degree in Linguistics.

Class 10 with Science and Mathematics – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies – UG In Biological Sciences/Medicine/Speech Language Pathology – PG & further study

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies and then study for an undergraduate degree in Biological Science / Medicine / Speech-Language Pathology/ Similar field followed by a master’s degree in Linguistics.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – UG in Language – PG in Language & Further study

After Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies, you can study Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics along with any other subject as per scheme of studies, you can study for an undergraduate degree in a Language of your interest followed by a master’s degree in the same language. You can then do an M.Phil. or Ph.D. in Linguistics.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

Undergraduate Studies After School

1. To be a Linguist, after your school, you can study for an undergraduate degree in any Language or in Linguistics. In India, very few undergraduate degrees in Linguistics are available. But if possible, you can study in UK, USA, Australia and other countries. Many undergraduate programs in Linguistics or a dual degree program in a Language and Linguistics are available in Universities in these countries.

2. It  may  make  better  sense  to  complete  an  undergraduate  or  bachelor’s  degree  in  a language,  preferably  in  English  or  a  Foreign  Language  or  an  ancient  Language  like Sanskrit and Pali. You can also study a modern Indian Language in the undergraduate level.

3. Alternatively, you can also study for an undergraduate degree in Physics, Biological Sciences (such as Physiology and Zoology), Mathematics, Computer Science, or Anthropology. Even, if you have a bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Medicine, you can switch to a career in Linguistic after doing an M.A. and Ph.D. in a specialized area of Linguistic. 

Post Graduate Studies

1. As a career in Linguistics require specialized and even super specialized knowledge, you must have a Post Graduate/Graduate Degree (as they call it in USA and Canada) in Linguistics/Applied  Linguistics with a specialization  in  an  area  of  your  choice  such  as Computational  Linguistics, Psycholinguistics, Phonetics & Phonology, Clinical Linguistics, Developmental Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, etc.

Competencies Required

Interests

1. Investigative: You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem solving.

2. Artistic: You should have interests for Artistic Occupations. Artistic occupations mostly involve working with creative ideas, art and designs. These occupations involve abstract or conceptual thinking, creative self-expression and often do not follow any set processes or rules for getting things done.

3. Social: You should have interests for Social Occupations. Social occupations involve helping or assisting others; these involve working with and communicating with people to provide various services; these may involve educating and advising others.

Abilities

1. Abstract Reasoning: The ability to understand ideas which are not expressed in words or numbers; the ability to understand concepts which are not clearly expressed verbally or otherwise.

2. Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic.

3. Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analyzing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions.

4. Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

5. Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

6. Verbal Reasoning: The ability to think and reason with words; the ability to reason out ideas expressed in words.

7. Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

8. Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Knowledge

1. Linguistics: Knowledge of how human speeches form, how words and languages develop, how grammar, syntax and phonetics develop, how languages evolve over time, etc.

Personality

1. You are a soft-hearted person sometimes.

2. You trust others sometimes but not always.

3. You are helpful to others sometimes.

4. You are self-satisfied sometimes but some other times you don't feel satisfied with your life and situations.

5. You are imaginative sometimes.

6. You prefer to experience new things and have new experiences sometimes.

7. You act independently sometimes but do not do so in some other times.

8. You are caring, supportive, sympathetic and kind to others sometimes.

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

Most of the job opportunities in this career are in academic research, in applied research or in teaching. You may also choose to be in translation / interpretation work. Following are some of the opportunities:

1. In Universities involved in theoretical or applied Linguistic research and teaching – you can join as a Research Fellow / Assistant Professor and grow into other positions.

2. In Information  Technology  firms  as  a  Language/Linguistic Specialist  in  the  area  of Computational Linguistic, Natural Language Processing, etc.

3. In colleges, language schools, and other institutions as a  Language  Teacher,  Accent Trainers, etc.

4. In publishing companies in the role of a Sub-editor /Writer /Translator

5. In  various  companies  as  a  Writer/Content Developer/Content Analyst/Content Writer

6. In  Business  Process  Management  companies  as  a  Language  Coach/Trainer  or  as  an Accent / Voice Trainer

7. You  can  take  up  various  opportunities  as  an  Interpreter  and  work  with  various companies, foreign consulates, Government departments, Government agencies, etc.

8. Find opportunities in Defense forces and intelligence forces.

Work Environment

1. You  will  mostly  work  in  academic  and  research  settings  –  in  Universities,  Colleges, Language Schools or in similar settings in offices of Government, Defense forces, Police forces and business enterprises.

2. Some jobs may require you to travel occasionally to field to help other professionals interpret foreign languages, help Defense/Police/Investigative agencies or for your own academic or applied research work.

3. Academic  work  places  when  you  are  in  teaching  such  as  Universities,  Colleges  and Language schools.

Specialisation Tracks In This Career

1. Computational Linguist

Computational Linguists help develop various algorithm and software for natural language processing – such as speech recognition, speech to text, text to speech, speech synthesis, etc. They are involved in developing Artificial Intelligence in the processing of human languages.

2. Neurolinguist

Neurolinguists (often called as Psycholinguist) are involved in research and studies to understand the complex processes in human brains which enable humans to acquire, understand, interpret, and produce speech as well as sign languages.

3. Cognitive Linguist

Cognitive Linguists are involved in research and studies to understand how language influences our cognition or learning and forms our thoughts and concepts.

4. Sociolinguist

Sociolinguists are involved in research and studies to understand how a community or society influence the development and use of language.

5. Developmental Linguist

Developmental Linguists are involved in research and studies to understand how children develop speeches and acquire or learn languages; how people acquire languages other than their mother language, etc.

Career Growth

Most of the job opportunities in this career are in academic research, in applied research or in teaching. You may also choose to be in translation / interpretation work. Following are some of the opportunities:

1. In Universities you can join as a Research Fellow and then after getting a Ph.D., join as a Post-Doctoral Fellow.  In  teaching  roles,  you  start  as  an  Assistant  Professor,  then become an Associate Professor and finally a Professor.

2. In Information Technology firms you can join after your Master’s in domain specialist roles as an Analyst / Associate Analyst / similar. You will progress as a Senior Analyst to an Associate Consultant and become a Consultant. After your Ph.D. you can join as an Associate Consultant and grow through the ranks.

3. In  colleges,  language  schools,  and  other  institutions  you  can  join  as  an  Assistant Language Teacher, Accent Trainers, etc. and then grow into various senior roles such as Teacher, Senior Teacher, Teacher-in-Charge, Principal, etc.

4. In publishing companies, you can join as a Copy Editor and then become a Sub-editor. You can then grow as a Deputy Editor / Associate Editor and then become an Editor. You can also find work as a Writer / Translator.

5. You can join various companies as a Writer / Content Developer / Content Analyst / Content Writer and grow into senior level roles.

6. In Business Process Management companies, you can grow from being a Language Coach/Trainer or as an Accent / Voice Trainer to Senior Trainers and then to Head of Voice/Accent Training or similar positions.

7. In Defense forces and intelligence forces.

Salary Offered  

1. During your Ph.D. in India, if you qualify in the UGC NET examination, you will get a stipend of Rs. 35,000 per month in the first 2 years and then Rs. 38,000 per month for the remaining years.

2. During your Post-Doctoral Fellowship, you may get about Rs. 40-45,000 per month.

3. In India,  if  you  join  a  University  or  College  as  an  Assistant  Lecturer  after  your  Post Graduate  degree  and  clearing  UGC  NET  examination,  you  will  earn  about  Rs. 60,000 a month.

4. If  you  join  in  a  research  position  in  an  enterprise,  including  Government  agencies, private sector companies, etc., then in the beginning, after your post-graduation, you may expect to earn about Rs. 40-45,000 a month in the beginning. If you join after Ph.D. then you may earn about Rs. 60-80,000 per month.

5. As an Associate Professor or in an equivalent research position, you can earn about Rs. 100,000-1,80,000 a month.

6. Mid-level positions in industry can fetch you about Rs. 1,20,000–2,50,000 or more per month.

7. As a Professor or in an equivalent research position, you can earn about Rs. 1,60, 000-2,25,000 a month.

8. Senior-level positions in industry can fetch you about Rs. 1,80,000- 500,000 or more per month.

Monthly Earnings In Indian Rupee 

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience

3. Mid Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also in the near future, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and in some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job)

Famous Personalities 

Not Available.

Work Activities 

As a Linguist, you might be involved in various applied areas of Linguistics – these areas where different applications of Linguistic are used. In these areas, you might be involved in different activities such as:

1. Reading, comprehending, analysis, and interpretation of written documents- Reading, comprehending, analyzing and interpreting various documents and scripts written in different languages, even in ancient languages such as Latin and Pali, depending upon your specialization area.

2. Understanding patterns, characteristics, and relationships among spoken and written words- Analysis and interpretation of various patterns, characteristics and relationships among words spoken/written in a language using various computer programs, sound equipment and other methods.

3. Developing algorithms- Developing algorithms for processing of natural languages – in written and spoken forms, for speech recognition, for speech synthesis, etc.