The requirements for prospective linguistics students to successfully undertake studies in Empirical Linguistics are manageable. A fascination with languages and their speakers is essential. Additionally, curiosity about languages (and cultures) that are unfamiliar, an interest in research, abstract thinking skills, self-motivation, and mental perseverance are all helpful. Everything else can be learned.
- A linguistics course at university not only provides subject-specific knowledge but also equips students with additional skills valued in the job market:
- Analytical thinking
- Knowledge of statistics
- Computer skills
- Language skills
- Linguistic intuition
There is no profession exclusively reserved for linguists. However, after completing a successful course of study, many career paths are open (this list is not exhaustive, and self-motivation is beneficial here as well):
- Computer linguistics (e.g., software development, language processing)
- Legal field (e.g., expert opinions in court, language recognition in criminal investigations)
- Healthcare
- Advertising (e.g., naming products or companies)
- (Science) journalism
- Language teaching (native and foreign languages)
- Clinical linguistics (e.g., in diagnosing or treating language disorders)
- Linguistic research (e.g., at universities or Max Planck Institutes)
- Documentation and description of endangered languages (e.g., in remote regions of South America)
The Career Service’s "What’s Next?" page also provides an overview of potential career profiles and fields, along with interviews with alumni of Goethe University.