Linguistics and Social Anthropology

Our BA Linguistics and Social Anthropology course will introduce you to the study of the unique human faculty of language and the investigation of the world's languages, while also delving into the comparative study of social and cultural life, and what it is to be human.

In Linguistics, you will explore the sounds and structure of languages across the globe, studying topics such as:

- how languages arise, change and die;

- how children acquire their first language;

- how adults learn a second or foreign language;

- differences between the speech of men and women;

- how we communicate as individuals and within groups;

- what happens when speakers of different languages come into contact.

You'll also be able to use quantitative methods in the study of large language corpora. This is a skill which you'll then be able to apply to other fields throughout your life.

In Social Anthropology, you will study a range of topics relating to society, culture, religion, identity and diversity, and will be introduced to methods and topics in anthropological research.

Manchester anthropologists look at the social implications of reproductive and information technologies while analysing the social meanings of consumer behaviour and studying violence, poverty, and the means for resolving conflicts and alleviating human suffering.