Programme Aims

The programme aims to

1. provide students with an understanding of the nature of language with which to explore the various ways it impacts on society and culture in the context of Hong Kong;

2. create a framework that allows students the option to focus on a particular aspect of language and its interaction with a particular societal / cultural process, be it the structure of language, language and translation and interpretation, and applications of language studies; and sharpen the students’ intellect to enable them to function more effectively as language professionals.

Upon successful completion of this Programme, students should be able to:

1. Analyze the structure and use of language in different social/ cultural contexts.

2. Reflect critically on the nature of language, and the issues of language in its actual use.

3. Apply effective communication skills in their work places in their role as language professionals.

4. Formulate generalizations on the processes and strategies involved in making discoveries in their respective fields of specialization.

5. (For students in the stream of general linguistics) analyze the structure of language, generate innovative linguistic analyses; reflect critically on the social, cultural and psychological aspects of language use, and apply such knowledge in their work.

6. (For students in the stream of corpus and empirical linguistics) apply a range of conceptual skills, with a focus on the corpus and latest empirical tools, to enhance students’ ability and efficiency in generating creative solutions to language tasks and to reflect critically on the multifaceted issues involved in the application of language studies.

7. (For students in the stream of pedagogical linguistics) apply a range of concepts and skills to language learning and its related pedagogical applications, and to enhance students the ability to be exposed to language acquisition and teaching in global contexts.

8. (For students in the stream of translation & interpretation) apply a range of conceptual tools and skills learned to enhance their ability in generating creative solutions to translation and interpretation tasks, and reflect critically on the multifaceted issues involved in translation and interpretation.