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.

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. :wink:

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