How is language structured? What are the social forces associated with the development of language? How does the mind process and produce language? What are the best methods for teaching and learning a new language? Linguistics is a vibrant and multifaceted field that bridges the academic and the everyday. From Sociolinguistics to Linguistic Anthropology to Applied Linguistics, each of the various disciplines associated with the general area of Linguistics provides an illuminating perspective on the ways in which language works.
At Williams, students can gain insight into the intricacies of linguistic functions in courses located in several different academic units.