Choosing
between Literature and Linguistics is like comparing Chemistry and Physics.
This is
a rather subjective question which needs to be defined a bit more to be able to
give a more satisfactory answer, but I will try my best. In terms of which one
is "better", it depends greatly on what you are interested in and
what you want to study in future. If, as I suspect, you are trying to decide
between courses for university, you need to decide what your end goal is; what
you want to do after you get your degree. Linguistics is the study of language,
its use in society, and the relationship between sound and meaning. So, if you
want to teach languages or become a specialist in speech therapy, this is
probably your best choice. I would recommend you take a look at Noam Chomsky's
work in Generative grammar to see if this is a road you would like to go down.
In this way, you will be able to analyze yourself more. If however, you are
interested in the written word which is more related to human emotions, and how
it has impacted on different societies, then perhaps, literature is the right the choice for you. As I said at the beginning, deciding which is better,
Linguistics or literature is a very personal decision; no one will tell you
exactly what is best, you should look at an overview of both subjects, consider
your strong points, and choose the one that appears right to you.
Also Read: Degree in English Literature
What
is Linguistics?
The human language provides us with an opportunity to communicate with one another,
these languages have systematic structures. Linguistics is a field that studies
these structural aspects of a language and makes it understandable to us.
Linguistics can be defined as the systematic and scientific study of a
language. It explores the human capacity for language from the perspectives of
how language works and is structured as a system. A broad choice of topics is
there in Linguistics such as syntax, phonetics and phonology, sociolinguistics,
language acquisition, semantics, pragmatics, morphology, literary stylistics
and critical and cultural theory, etc.
Linguistics
studies the rules and regulations of a language. It is concerned with the
nature of languages, their systematic component, the commonalities and
differences that exist among human languages and the cognitive processes that
come into play.
What
is Literature?
Literature
is a work of art, it is related to human feelings and emotions. It includes
written works that belong to many genres ranging from poetry and dramas to
novels. Literature is the creation of a world that allows the reader to not
only dive into an alien world but also allows the reader to reflect on various
issues. It has more deep meanings in human lives, it is not merely a recital of
ordinary speech but contains an artistic value. Within the English literature,
your degree includes, the study of traditional areas ( such as Shakespeare or Austen)
and examine classical works, for a broader perspective on English-language
literature. Literature also allows you to explore creative writing and recent
developments in literary theory.
In
English literature, you study different works from every corner of the world.
There are works from America, Australian continent, Asia and even Africa. These
studies give you a powerful insight into the working of literature and its
cultural impacts. The literary works of English literature are divided into
different eras also known as literary periods, to study, such as the
Renaissance, the Romantic period, the Victorian period so on and so forth. In
each of these periods, there are contemporary writers, poets and playwrights
that were prominent figures of the time in terms of their literary work.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, Linguistics and Literature are both different things, it is
completely different from one another, although the language is the main
element in the two cases. I would recommend that if you want to study the
artistic, creative and philosophical side of language, literature is for you.
In literature, you will study the more deep and naturalistic aspects of
language. If, on the other hand, you are a person who wants a purely scientific
approach to language, linguistics is your best choice. In linguistics you will
study the structure and rules of grammar in a language, it is more like math
like 2+2=4.
In a
nutshell, It depends on what you want to do in the future, what is your
priorities. However, linguistics is more popular and has a wider range of
applications throughout the world. You can teach it, become research in it or
work as a translator, editor or writer. On the other hand, literature focus on
much narrower and more specific things. It is related to human beings daily
life activities and has a huge impact on them. You'll be able to mostly teach
it, become a writer or a librarian. It also depends on what kind of literature
you're going to focus on. Linguistics is more scope in today’s world but again
it is related to a person aptitude
Also Read: I Hate Poetry
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