Linguistics and Language Studies examines the building blocks of languages, how they develop and change over time, how people learn languages, how regional accents differ, and other fascinating language-based questions. Linguistics principles can be applied to all languages; at Glendon we focus on English, French, and Spanish.
- Our program offers a rich menu of linguistics branches, including phonetics (the sound properties of language), morphology (word patterns), semantics (the study of meaning in general), historical linguistics (the evolution of languages over time), and sociolinguistics (which deals with the relationships between language and social contexts).
- Thanks to our bilingual campus and the growing presence of Spanish, you can apply your learning to three languages in an authentic context. Further, in the classroom we take a broad view of language learning across the world.
- Our professors are leaders in diverse areas of linguistics research. For example, Christine Besnard is a front-runner in research concerning bilingualism among autistic children. William Greaves and James Benson recently published Functional Dimensions of Ape-Human Discourse, which asks the question “what do interactions between apes and humans mediated by language tell us?” In order to answer this question they explore language-in-context, drawing on a multi-leveled, multi-functional linguistics.
- You can benefit from the extensive language resources available outside the classroom. The Glendon Centre for Research on Language Contact provides research assistantships and other opportunities for hands-on experience, and the Linguistics department frequently hosts talks and conferences featuring well-known scholars in the field.
- Our new course Case Studies in Canada’s Aboriginal Languages includes work with the Ojibwa community of Toronto, as well as a weekend wilderness adventure using the Objiwa language.
- Interested in studying a third language? There are almost 20 language options across the Glendon and Keele campuses.
Careers and Alumni
Linguistics graduate Naomi Knight is grateful for the doors Glendon opened for her. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Sydney in Australia. More ››
Linguistics and Language Studies can lead you to a career in speech language pathology, editing, publishing, language teaching, advertising, and more. Some students pursue a Master’s degree in speech pathology, while others go on to graduate studies in other specializations in linguistics.
Professor Ian Martin has helped the government of the newly created territory of Nunavut to develop its language policies in the area of education.
Sienna came from a bilingual background in English and French, and found Glendon’s Linguistics program to be the ideal choice in pursuing her passion for languages. Her work with Glendon’s newspaper, Pro Tem, has given her an additional outlet for her love of language and communication.
Kamea’s interest in languages is what led her to major in linguistics and language studies, with the goal of pursuing a master of conference interpreting. Coming from a core french background, Glendon being a bilingual campus was the perfect choice.
Britney’s passion for storytelling led her to want to pursue a deeper understanding of how and why languages work. Britney came to Glendon both because a bilingual campus seemed an ideal place to learn about language, and because she felt drawn to the beauty of the small community.
Isabel Duque Arango is in her first year in Linguistics and Languages Studies. Growing up in South America while constantly being exposed to English and French is what lead her to develop an interest in different languages which is why Glendon’s bilingual environment appeals to her enormously.
Linguistics and Language Studies is available as a Bachelor of Arts, or a bilingual or trilingual international Bachelor of Arts.
Our bilingual campus and top-rate English, French and Spanish language programs are internationally recognized, making Glendon an ideal place to pursue a linguistics degree.
Consider combining your Linguistics degree with another Glendon program. There are surprising overlaps between fields to explore.
Glendon students have access to a host of campus resources, including the Centre for Research on Language Contact, the School of Translation, a French publishing house called Éditions du GREF, and computer-based language tools.
THE GLENDON LINGUISTICS CLUB
The Glendon Linguistics Club (GLC) is a student-run organization designed to help linguistics students make the most of their time at Glendon. They balance social events (movie nights and pizza lunches) with academic events (degree planning and homework help) to serve you as best as possible. They also offer a series of workshops for what might happen after graduation; these sessions feature Glendon graduates and give current students a chance to ask questions and learn about what they might be doing in the future – things like teaching, speech pathology or graduate work.
If you have questions, comments or ideas to share, contact them at email@example.com or via Twitter: @GlendonLIN.
In the News
Ready to apply?
Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) Codes
iBA Bilingual: YGX
iBA Trilingual: YGH (Upper-year entry)