# Linguistics

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linguistics/156838>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 22, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linguistics/156838 "2003-02-22T22:10:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linguistics/156838/41 "2003-02-27T21:46:11Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by zweisamkeit \*  
> \*\*A semi-sort of-hijack:
> 
> I’m getting a dual major in Computer Science (blegh) and Humanities. I would _like_ to go into Linguistics, maybe grad school (?). What do you need to study/take/know to get into a grad program in Linguistics? \*\*

Depends on what kind of Linguistics you want to do. Minimally, you will want to be familiar with Syntax, Phonology, Morhpology, Phonetics, and Semantics/Pragmatics. Most of the other fields (Historical, Discourse Analysis, Socio-, Acquisition, etc.) will utilize these basic concepts.

Also, find out what kind of approach to Linguistics you want to take. There are some very different philosophies of language out there and many departments only have one.

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**Author:** ![Broodha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Broodha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broodha)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linguistics/156838/42 "2003-02-28T00:20:16Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ol’Gaffer \*  
> \*\*Ease of articulation.
> 
> Produce airflow -\> stop airflow -\> release airflow. \*\*

Couldn’t it also be salience?

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**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linguistics/156838/43 "2003-02-28T00:37:51Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Broodha \*  
> \*\*Couldn’t it also be salience? \*\*

Are you referring to perceptual separation?

If you are, then…Yes, it could be (and probably is).

And thank you for pointing out that I only provided half an answer. 😉

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**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linguistics/156838/44 "2003-02-28T00:39:52Z")

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BTW, **Broodha** , are you familiar with Dispersion Theory? It looks at the trade-offs between articulation and perception.

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