Linguistics examines how language works, describing how sounds, words, sentences and conversations combine to express and create meaning.It studies:the uses of language in everyday lifethe ways in which it varies across society and evolves over timehow it is mastered by childrenLinguistics has a long history at the University of Edinburgh, and our teaching staff have an excellent reputation for research in this area.Linguistics is a new subject for nearly all undergraduates, so you will not need any prior knowledge at the beginning of the programme.You will take two semester-long courses, which introduce you to the principles of theoretical linguistics. You will study the way we learn language, the regional and social variations of language in general, and of the English language in particular, and methods of communication. If you are studying a joint honours programme you will also take courses from your other subject area.You will take four further semester-long courses (two in the case of some joint honours programmes) looking at linguistic theory and research techniques, the structure of spoken and written English, and at the patterns of linguistic change as it has occurred in and beyond the UK.