How to become A Linguistic Anthropologist

A picture speaks a thousand words, but a single word tells a tale beyond time. Recognising that languages are a window into the immensity of human evolution, Linguistic Anthropologists delve deep into their history, development, and changes to understand the myriad influences languages exercise on the societies, communities, groups, and individuals who speak them.

• Sociolinguist
• Anthropological Linguist

What do Linguist Anthropologists do?

A Linguist Anthropologist would typically need to:

• Plan, design, direct, and conduct diverse research projects to study the origin, nature, and history of language, its daily usage, the evolution of languages over time and across cultures, and their influence on human behaviour and social life
• Work with archives, reviewing, translating, and interpreting historical documents and literature to obtain linguistic and social data; study new data, analyse previously collected data, and make interpretations
• Use individual and group interviews, focus groups, consultants, and observation to obtain data, either using established techniques or creating new ones
• Use computer programs to record and analyse research findings
• Write research papers and present them to various academic groups such as anthropological societies or general audiences, or have them published
• Act as a consultant to governmental or private agencies; work with historic sites or trusts, as translators for different agencies, or international government sites translating or researching language and people groups
• Work with computer programmers to develop improved speech recognition programs
• Work on museum publications, dictionaries, histories, or culture studies as writers, editors, or expert consultants
• Research the language of testing documents to check for biases or problematic areas
• Study cultures from a past period through their preserved writings; work to document and maintain languages nearly lost to the world
• Work with displaced groups of people, such as refugee or immigrant populations, helping them hold onto and preserve their culture by studying and documenting their language or writings
• Provide special insights into different populations and be proficient speakers of the local languages when employed in a diplomatic capacity
• Instruct post-secondary courses, teaching a set number of credit hours per academic term and courses at all levels of the curriculum; conduct research with undergraduate students
• Carry out competitive research and audits to provide insights for clients and project-based work
• Act as a lead interviewer in gathering insights, primarily through ethnography, in-depth interviews, and online community moderation
• Design and plan investigations in research and development in sectors such as automobile manufacturing
• Develop field plans and fieldwork execution as well as associated reporting when working as consultants

While many Linguistic Anthropologists perform fieldwork, others spend most of their time working in offices and laboratories. Professors of linguistic anthropology may divide their time between teaching and research. This work may take them to study sites as diverse as the Arctic to study the Inuit or Eskimos, to Africa to dig at an archaeological site or observe monkeys in their natural habitat, or into a modern city to record the behaviour and attitudes of members of a particular ethnic group.

Anthropologists often work full-time regular hours but also put in long hours as required. Fieldwork schedules may not follow a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. pattern. It may depend on the availability of resources and human subjects and other logistical constraints such as weather and transport.

Linguistic Anthropologists work in various settings, with specific responsibilities depending upon the sector. While government and academia roles are typical, there are more job opportunities currently in the private sector. These include jobs in the software industry to work on machine translation or speech recognition technology or organisations as "communication consultants" to streamline communication and enhance productivity.

Linguistic Anthropologists are generally employed by:

• Colleges & Universities
• Advertising Agencies
• Government
• Museums
• National Parks
• Technical Aid Programs
• Software Firms
• Publishing & Testing Industries
• Consultancies
• Market Research Companies
• Automobile Manufacturers

Membership in local, regional, national, or international associations such as The International Association of Language and Social Psychology (IALSP) adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications. The (IALSP) provides an international forum for sharing and fostering scholarly research through regular opportunities for like-minded professionals to meet.

You may also join the World Anthropological Union (WAU). In this interface, the missions of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES) and the World Council of Anthropological Associations (WCAA) come together to launch person-to-person international dialogues and initiate cooperative exchange among anthropological associations.

• Physical stamina required for fieldwork; the need to adapt to the possible lack of physical comforts on field trips
• The need for adaptability to work as part of a research team and interact with people from diverse cultures
• Gaining legal access to reliable information
• Building relationships and gaining trust
• The complexity of the discussion of identity and personhood
• Understanding unfamiliar concepts in different cultures or accepting radically different ones from what you are used to

Students often have an opportunity to work as research assistants while in graduate school. Professional publications sometimes list openings. You can also apply directly to colleges and universities, government agencies, and private firms that hire Linguistic Anthropologists.

Be aware, however, that there may not be many positions available to those who have only a bachelor's degree, but you might be able to find work as a laboratory, field, or research assistant if you have at least a four-year degree.

Aspiring Linguistic Anthropologists can explore relevant summer or part-time jobs in museums, non-profits, government agencies, and businesses.

While some entry-level positions may require only a bachelor's degree, most Linguistic Anthropologists have a master's or doctoral degree in anthropology or applied linguistic anthropology. Typical courses include sociology, English, history, archaeology, psychology, geography, philosophy, and theology. Successful professionals are typically skilled at and enjoy research, data, discovery, and sharing their knowledge with audiences through presenting at conferences, teaching, and consulting.

Aspiring Linguistic Anthropologists would do well to major in anthropology in college. To get an edge on the competition, train early in statistics, one or more foreign languages, and an anthropological field that intrigues you. Following high school, plan for at least eight years of full-time study, including fieldwork, to earn your doctoral degree. The learning continues, however, all through your career, and you will need to keep reading and studying to stay current with developments and new findings in your field.

While no certification is mandatory for Linguistic Anthropologists, voluntary certification is often seen as evidence of an individual’s drive and motivation, giving them a leg up for raises and promotions. Certification demonstrates competence in a skill or set of skills, typically acquired through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three. Certification from an objective and reputed organisation can help you gain professional credibility, validate your knowledge, and increase your confidence at work.

Individual government entities conduct licensing. It typically requires the passage of an examination in addition to the fulfilment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship. Typically, Linguistic Anthropologists do not need any special license to carry out their work.

Performance, experience, and acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years.

Although they are highly trained specialists, Linguistic Anthropologists must constantly improve their skills and further their expertise if they wish to advance in their field. Writing books and articles to share their findings is a path that many take. Earning recognition from colleagues and scholars in other areas is also viewed as a form of advancement.

Diversifying a little from their speciality, Linguistic Anthropologists may also supervise research teams at archaeological sites. In academia, they may rise to the role of full Professor or branch out to become Administrators.

Job competition for Linguistic Anthropologists is moderately fierce, with corporations offering most opportunities. Experience and a PhD will give job seekers the best prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is the holistic commitment of Linguistic Anthropologists towards enhancing personal skills and proficiency throughout their active careers through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. There are many CPD courses, seminars, and workshops to help professionals in the field.

CPD allows individuals to upskill continually, regardless of their age, job, or level of knowledge. It prevents practical and academic qualifications from becoming outdated. It enables Linguistic Anthropologists to identify any knowledge gaps and progress to a new specialism.

Linguistic Anthropologists can expect support and additional training from the academic institution or from Vitae, a non-profit global leader with over 50 years of experience in enhancing researchers’ skills. In partnership with governments, funders of research, academies, professional bodies, trusts & foundations, universities, and research institutes, Vitae offers training, resources, events, consultancy, and membership.

The central concern of CPD is that of lifelong learning with its application to professional lives. CPD is more than just a policy or some form of bureaucratic procedure. It is not just a set of boxes to be ticked mindlessly. It is value-laden and embraces several new learning objectives, educational methodologies and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops, professional publications serve to educate, influence, support and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Linguistic Anthropologists.

Language Defines Human Beings

Language led human beings to socialise, cooperate, and organize. The 19th century popularized the concept of linguistic relativity, the idea that language structure affects the way people conceive of their world. We do not yet fully understand how language affects worldview, although studies indicate an intricate underlying relationship.

Language-Oriented Social Scientists

Linguistic Anthropologists are social scientists who study the origin and use of language in general, the evolution of specific languages, and the interrelation of different languages. They sometimes visit communities with no written languages and study and record their spoken languages. Linguistic Anthropologists also try to explain how language is related to the ways in which the people in the community think and act. Some other issues they study include linguistic relativity, bilingualism, multilingualism, and language change.

Knowledgeable Researchers

Research forms the core of the social sciences, and most Linguistic Anthropologists engage in research at some point in their careers. Research in linguistic anthropology spans a wide range of activities, from documenting vanishing languages to language and gender issues to creating cultural identity through the development of regional dialects. Linguistic Anthropologists must equip themselves with deep linguistic and cultural knowledge of the population they study, and they often rely on participant observation to gather data.

Versatile Academics

Many Linguistic Anthropologists teach at the college or university level. Some are qualified to teach other subjects besides anthropology, including linguistics, communication, speech communication, rhetoric, and foreign languages.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Being a freelance Linguistic Anthropologist offers freedom regarding flexible schedules, working hours, and location. They have full ownership of the business and can afford selectivity in terms of the variety of projects and clients presented. While freelancing has unlimited earning potential, it also has less stability and security, with inconsistent work and cash flow. There is more responsibility, effort, and risk involved. There are no paid holidays, and sick/maternity/paternity leaves are almost unaffordable. There is the added pressure of a self-employment tax and no eligibility for unemployment benefits.

However, a full-time Linguistic Anthropologist has access to company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Despite that, they are susceptible to potential boredom and inability to pursue passion projects due to their lack of time or effort. There is also a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety, and the need to budget extra money for commuting and attire costs.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

At least more than half of the world’s population speak more than one language.

Interpreting human experiences as, and through, the symbolic means of linguistic expressions forms the core of what Linguistic Anthropologists do. Through research, observation, and analysis, they seek to unwrap the layers of language around human thought and understand how words shape us. They appreciate that a language is more than a collection of words structured by grammar. A language embodies a way of understanding and looking at the world.

Field notes are an essential resource to help document and organise data collected. Write them while observing cultural practices and events over extended periods and in different contexts (unless prohibited). Right after you leave a field site, sit quietly and make all the necessary appendices to fill in missing details, the relevant interlocutors (including your own roles there), as well your impressions.