Linguistics – Bachelor of Communication

In the Bachelor of Communication (Linguistics), you will explore how language works to generate meaning and how it is used not only to share information, but also to manage social relations and influence behaviour. You will also learn about the unwritten rules that shape all of our social interactions.

At the heart of our lives

Language is at the heart of communication. Linguistics is the study of human languages. It helps you understand how language has evolved, how it is structured and how it is used today to communicate in a range of settings.

While studying linguistics, you might for example:

• examine murderers’ text messages
• comment on a failed media interview
• explore the place of te reo Māori in NZ communication
• listen to global hip hop to track the influence of African-Americanisms
• investigate how we use language to construct our gender and sexuality.

Skills sought-after by employers

You will learn transferable skills that employers seek. You'll gain excellent written and oral communication skills and an ability to understand the subtexts of communication from others.

Employment opportunities

85% of graduates are employed within six months of graduation. These graduates are employed across nine different industry categories with more than 60 different job titles.

Gain a relevant qualification

Massey University’s linguistics major offers courses that specifically examine language in New Zealand and the Pacific, ensuring relevant, local context. Other courses like forensic linguistics will help you understand corporate-related areas such as intellectual property and authorship identification. You will enjoy studying towards an interesting, relevant qualification.