Master in Linguistic Diversity and Digital Humanities University of Helsinki

How Can Everyone Use Their Own Language in the Future?

Do you want to deepen your understanding of language in general or become an expert in linguistic diversity at a local or global scale? Are you interested in learning how humans perceive the world and process information or how to create artificial systems that resemble language, speech and human cognition? Do you want to know how to use digital methods to study aspects of human life such as history and social development?

In the Master's Programme in Linguistic Diversity and Digital Humanities (Previously: Linguistic Diversity in the Digital Age), you may deepen your understanding of the nature and diversity of human language and the theoretical and digital tools for working with language and speech. You may also focus on digital methods in other fields within humanities or on human cognition and artificial intelligence. You can choose from five study tracks: (1) Cognitive Science, (2) Digital Humanities, (3) General Linguistics, (4) Language Technology or (5) Phonetics. One of them could be just perfect for you!

Studying

In the Master's Programme in Linguistic Diversity and Digital Humanities (LingDig), you get an understanding of the nature and diversity of human language and the theoretical and digital tools for working with language and speech. You may also focus on digital methods in other fields within humanities or on human cognition and articficial intelligence. The programme offers five fields of specialisation: Cognitive Science, Digital Humanities, General Linguistics, Language Technology and Phonetics.*

These five study tracks interact at all levels, starting with an introductory course common to all students, bringing together the perspectives of all five study tracks. Taking courses across study tracks is made easy. The integration of these five disciplines into one programme is unique - no similar programme exists anywhere else.

*Previously the Master's Programme in Linguistic Diversity in Digital Age. The mentioned fields of specialisations/study tracks are available as of 1 Aug 2020.

Struc­ture, con­tent and study tracks

The scope of the Master of Arts degree is 120 credits (ECTS), to be completed in two years of full-time studies. The language of instruction in the LingDig programme is English and it contains the following studies:

• Studies common to all students in the programme (30 credits); this includes a 10-credit introductory course and 20 credits chosen from a common list of courses.
• Advanced studies in your study track (30 credits)
• Elective studies (30 credits)
• MA thesis (30 credits)

As a student in the programme you choose amongst five study tracks: (1) Cognitive Science, (2) Digital Humanities, (3) General Linguistics, (4) Language Technology and (5) Phonetics.

Your elective studies may include modules offered either by the other study tracks within this Master's programme or by other programmes within the University of Helsinki. Examples of modules offered by other programmes include Indigenous studies and computer science. Courses offered by other universities can also be included here.

The studies in your own study track, as well as the other studies, can include study abroad (e.g. student exchange) and work practice or other working life oriented study units. Working life and career development perspectives are integrated into many of the courses.

Courses and teach­ing

At the beginning of your Master’s studies, you will prepare your first personal study plan (PSP), with support from the staff of the Master's programme. You will also receive guidance from the Faculty.

The courses offer you in-depth training in your chosen study track: (1) General Linguistics, (2) Phonetics, (3) Language Technology, (4) Cognitive Science and (5) Digital Humanities. These five study tracks interact at all levels, starting with an introductory course common to all students, bringing together the perspectives of all five study tracks. Taking courses across study tracks is made easy.

In the context of humanities, the programme has the closest relationship to natural sciences, and many subfields of the programme involve methods directly linked to laboratory sciences, including digital technology and neurosciences. The teaching in the programme includes lectures and seminars, practical exercise sessions, reading circles, fieldwork excursions, as well as work practice (internship). The broad spectrum of teaching methods guarantees optimal support for your learning processes.

Mas­ter's thesis

Your studies culminate in writing your Master’s thesis, an independent scientific study with the scope of 30 credits. You will be guided through the writing process in a thesis seminar during your second year of studies.

The aim of the Master’s thesis is to develop your basic skills for conducting research. The most important of them include the ability to seek information independently, analyse and assess existing information critically, and produce and apply information independently. In addition, writing your Master’s thesis develops your project management skills and your mastery of an extensive body of knowledge. Upon completing your Master’s thesis, you will:

• Be ready to work in a systematic way and able to understand large conceptual wholes
• Have the ability to define and discuss your chosen research problem
• Have mastered the theories and research methods required in your work
• Have demonstrated familiarity with your thesis topic and the literature in the field
• Be able to analyse material and communicate your results scientifically

As a rule, you will write your thesis in English, though students with Finnish or Swedish as their administrational language can write their thesis in these languages.

Stu­dents and stu­dent life

Student life and especially the student organisation culture is exceptionally rich and diverse in Finland. Also at the University of Helsinki, the student community is very active. More than 250 student organisations operate within the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY), ranging from faculty and subject organisations to political and societal organisations, and from choirs and orchestras to sports and game clubs. Their activities include anniversary celebrations, academic dinner parties, cultural events, get-togethers and excursions.

As a student and member of the Student Union (HYY), you are entitled to many benefits and services. For example, affordable student housing, basic healthcare services, sports facilities and student-priced meals. You also get numerous discounts, for example on public transport fees across the country.

Why Lin­guistic Di­versity and Digital Hu­man­it­ies?

During your studies, you will:

• gain an in-depth understanding of the basic structure of language, its subsystems (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics) and their interrelationships
• learn the fundamentals of linguistic analysis and language description
• familiarise yourself with linguistic concepts, theories, descriptive models and the associated research methods
• learn how language is related to cognition, speech and interaction as well as to social structures, culture and society
• learn to use various methods and technical tools in order to manage and analyse language data
• gain a good understanding of linguistic variation and diversity: what is common to the world's languages and how they differ, how language changes over time, how languages influence each another, how individuals cope with multilingual situations and how communities speaking endangered languages can be supported.

After completing your studies, you will be able to work independently in various fields that require multidisciplinary expertise in linguistic sciences. You will have the theoretical knowledge and skills that are required for postgraduate studies in doctoral programmes in language studies.

The Master's Programme in Linguistic Diversity and Digital Humanities is for you if you want to:

• deepen your understanding of language in general, or
• become an expert in linguistic diversity at a local or global scale, or
• learn how humans perceive the world and process information, or
• learn how to create artificial systems that resemble language, speech and human cognition, or
• know how to use digital methods to study aspects of human life such as history and social development.

Career

After completing your studies in the Master's Programme in Linguistic Diversity and Digital Humanities (LingDig), you will be able to work independently in various fields that require multidisciplinary expertise in linguistic sciences. You will also have the theoretical knowledge and skills that are required for postgraduate studies in doctoral programmes in language studies.