Choosing Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, including language analytics, how languages evolve, and how we use language to communicate. Linguistic research advances knowledge on how we socialize, how we understand or misunderstand one another, and how we use language to interpret the world around us. Areas of study include sounds (phonetics and phonology), words (morphology), sentences (syntax), pattern and variation analysis (corpus linguistics), narratives and conversations (discourse analysis), meaning (semantics and pragmatics) and the study of individual languages, including Indigenous languages.
SFU Linguistics is one of the largest and most diverse linguistics programs in Canada. We offer a wide range of courses about language at the undergraduate level, including certificate programs in Linguistics of Speech Science and Teaching English as a Second Language. We also offer graduate programs for MA and PhD degrees. The work conducted in our research labs aims to address questions such as how language is acquired in infancy, how second languages are acquired, and how language can be processed by computers.
Career options related to linguistics are expanding each year, as the value of skills such as computational text analysis, practical application of phonetic science, and sociolinguistic analysis is being recognized in the increasingly data-driven job market. Linguistics graduates may choose to work in analytics, language data management, ESL instruction, speech language assistance, and natural language processing (NLP). With further education, a student can become an audiologist, speech-language pathologist, forensic linguist, and more.
News and events
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September 05, 2025
Maite Taboada named a finalist for SSHRC Impact Award
Taboada is among the finalists of the Insight category, which recognizes outstanding achievement arising from SSHRC-funded initiatives that contribute to knowledge and understanding about people, societies and the world. -
September 04, 2025
Indigenous Languages faculty and students present at ICLDC 9
INLP had a very strong presence at this year’s International Conference on Language Documentation and Conservation. -
August 28, 2025
PhD Thesis Defence: Danielle Deng
Danielle’s thesis is titled Perceiving phonetic variability in accented English: A multi-level study of native and Mandarin L2 listeners. -
August 25, 2025
Professor Cécile Vigouroux transfers to Linguistics from the Department of French
Vigouroux’s work aims to bridge sociolinguistics and other disciplines such as geography and economics. -
August 25, 2025
New Linguistics faculty Sara Ng explores issues in computational models of prosody and speech perception
“I am interested in how humans use tune, rhythm, and pronunciation to convey pragmatic meaning such as discourse structure and conceptual pacts, and how this exchange of information is affected by hearing impairment and other speech disorders.” -
August 25, 2025
Salish language researcher Lauren Schneider joins faculty of Indigenous Languages Program
Schneider recently served as a Visiting Assistant Professor and Interim Director of the prestigious Native American Languages and Linguistics MA Program (NAMA) at the University of Arizona. -
August 22, 2025
Meet our new cohort of Linguistics graduate students
Introducing the 2025-2026 cohort of Linguistics graduate students!
A word from our professors
Moments of realization are common while discovering linguistics - "I always sensed that was true, but didn't know why!"
Dr. Wong Einwag offers insight on the ways that linguistics affects our world and our worldview.
Dr. Marianne Ignace, Director of the Indigenous Languages Program, has built research and educational partnerships in and with Indigenous communities.
Several members of faculty provide a broad overview of the different areas of study within linguistics.
Dr. Taboada explains her areas of research, including evaluative language, discourse analysis, and computational linguistics.
Term lecturer Eva Tchizmarova describes the skills and knowledge to be gained in LING 220: Introduction to Linguistics.