Linguistics research
In our globalised society, understanding the way we communicate is important. Our research in Linguistics looks beyond the words themselves to explore how they're used in certain contexts, and the relationship words can have with social phenomena and identity, such as class or power.
It also looks at how language – particularly English – can act as the key driver of economic and social development, how international companies and organisations are both taught multiple languages, and how language is translated. We're also researching the way language is used in the world, and how it is used in different ways, from expressing ideas to empowering the marginalised.
We investigate the technology replacing traditional translation, and the ramifications to translation students. With industries looking globally, our research helps companies target international markets, employ sufficiently skilled translators and develop materials for teaching English to speakers of other languages.
Interested in a PhD in Languages and Linguistics?
Explore our Languages and Linguistics postgraduate research degrees – including PhDs and MPhils.
Explore our Linguistics areas of expertise
Find out more about the facilities and research methods that shape our research in the areas below – and learn more about our recent projects, the academic and industrial partners with whom we collaborate, and the major funders who fund our work.
Corpus linguistics
We're looking at huge datasets of natural language – often many billions of words – to explore how language is used in different regions, genres and situations.
Discourse analysis
We're researching how ideas, concepts and people are represented through language, and exploring how language is used in real-life contexts.
Professional communication
Our research in professional communication explores how spoken and written language is used in workplaces to develop relationships and achieve institutional objectives.
Sociolinguistics
Through our work in sociolinguistics, we're studying the ways in which language can affect, and is affected, by social phenomena.
Teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL)
We're focusing on the learning and teaching of English as a second or foreign language, in primary, secondary and adult learning contexts.
Translation
We're exploring how texts are translated and the practices around the translation of texts, including professional training, the use of technologies, and non-professional translation communities.
Our research centres
We're researching topics such as citizenship, race, social theory and transnational politics.
Centre for European and International Studies Research
Centre for Studies in Literature