Linguistics Program at the University of Montana

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Johnny Norton, a linguistics major at the , studied Turkish in the TÖMER (Turkish and Foreign Language Teaching Center) at Ankara University (https://tomer.ankara.edu.tr/). Reflecting on his experience, he shared: “Learning Turkish through classes taught in Turkish was one of my favorite language learning experiences, and as a linguistics student, it piqued all my interests! As always, travelling overseas is amazing and worth every minute of the experience!”

ALUMNI UPDATE!
Julie Workman received an MA in Linguistics from the University of Montana in 2013. She currently lives in Seattle. We interviewed Julie about her current job and how linguistics training impacts her current work.

1. What is your job title and what does your job involve?
I am a Paralegal, which broadly means I assist attorneys with managing their cases. At times I handle litigation work like drafting documents, selecting exhibits, and having subpoenas served. I spend most of my time reviewing large volumes of case records, identifying information relevant to the legal questions at issue, and creating resources with this information for attorney reference in their analysis.

2. In what ways does your linguistics training impact your work?
There are so many ways a strong academic background is beneficial in a legal support position, but I think in particular a background in linguistics is an excellent basis for developing skills used on a daily basis, like data management, analysis, and writing. Research I was able to do in my Linguistic Anthropology and previous Sociolinguistics courses has informed my career (and my life) by giving me an understanding of how language intersects with politics, culture, history, and law.

3. Any advice for students in linguistics?
Linguistics is a very fulfilling area of study for someone interested in the history or structures of languages. Your interest in language will carry you a long way but so will the discipline to buckle down and lock in for many hours. Remember: the ability required to form a hypothesis from data and the ability to present that hypothesis in a structured way are different skills, and you'll be practicing both. Prepare your mind (and your spine) for a lot of reading and writing. My advice to anyone seeking any degree is to remember that rest is a necessary part of work.

4. Additional thoughts about your experience studying linguistics at UM?
I was also honored to be able to study linguistics with such a knowledgeable group of professors. I frequently reflect on advice I received during my program when writing professionally. The beautiful campus and town were a bonus!

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