Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics

Modern & Medieval Languages

Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics

Information for Linguistics MPhil Students: Some common questions and answers

Last updated: August 2006

This information has been prepared jointly by staff and research students in the Department. It arises from questions asked in open sessions of the Research Students' Seminars. Information on University, Faculty and Departmental procedure is normally offered by the teaching staff; other information comes from individual experience, and has generally been found useful by a number of people.

What help can I get on doing research

See also Practical Advice on Preparing MPhil Assessment work in Linguistics (PDF)

  • If you need FUNDS to collect your data, approach your college in the first instance, and talk with your supervisor about other possible sources.

  • TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT. The Audio Visual Aids Unit (tel. (3)34390) lends video recorders and tape recording equipment, The Phonetics Laboratory can lend tape recording equipment and has a sound-treated room for quiet recordings or listening tests. Talk with Francis Nolan or Rachel Smith before using Phonetics Laboratory equipment.

  • LIBRARIES. You can freely use all the libraries in the university, including departmental libraries. To borrow from a departmental or faculty library you'll need to register. Your UL card is normally sufficient identification for you to register in another library but in order to register at the UL you will need your confirmation offer letter from BGS.

  • COMPUTING HELP is available on a wide range of topics from a number of sources. Services you will probably find most useful are the University Computing Service's help desk at the New Museums Site, and the Literary and Linguistic Computing Centre (LLCC), on the top floor of the Raised Faculty Building. The next two items give examples of what they offer. Friends and acquaintances can also be invaluable.

  • COMPUTERISED LITERATURE SEARCHES and related matters. The University Library, the Computing Service help desk, and the LLCC can help with searches. The LLCC offers specialist help for the humanities, including access to fonts.

  • USING COMPUTERISED LINGUISTIC CORPORA. (See also the section on networking.)
    • Consider first whether a computerised corpus has already been compiled for the language(s) and kind of data you are interested in, and second how you can get advice and appropriate software if you need to compile your own corpus.

    • For existing corpora and analysis tools, there are several helpful pages on the WWW. Three general pages are-
    • In Cambridge, both the computing service help desk and the LLCC offer advice on software and computing techniques (links above). At the help desk, you can consult specialists in the relevant area, e.g. databases; the LLCC can also advise on this area, and stocks some software for analysing corpora, e.g. the Oxford Concordance Program.

    • There is a corpus linguistics mailing list: Subscription information can be found on the general list of language and linguistics-related mailing lists.

  • BOOKS ON DOING RESEARCH AND WRITING A THESIS. Many people find such books very helpful. Two books some students use are:
    • Becker, H. S. (1996) Writing for the Social Sciences: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Marshal Library, 110 A 14
    • Watson, G. (1987) Writing a Thesis: A Guide to Long Essays and Dissertations. London: Longman. Judge Institute of Management library LB2369.W37
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What's a good writing style? How do I develop one?

  • The value of a good writing style can't be over-emphasised. You write to communicate: if your style is clear, it helps you to check that your thoughts are clear, and you will communicate well. A good rule of thumb is: "If the reader can't understand what I've written, it's probably my fault, and it's up to me to revise the text until it is clear."

  • Style is partly a matter of general consensus, and partly personal opinion. Some subdisciplines of linguistics encourage distinct styles, influenced by other disciplines with which they are in contact (e.g. literary criticism, history, the sciences). Observe what seems to you to be good style, and listen to your supervisor's suggestions.

  • Abbreviations, quotations, references, etc should be in a clear and consistent style.

  • Some supervisors in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics recommend that you follow the style of a good journal in your area (most publish style sheets).

  • Some supervisors recommend that you follow the MML Faculty-recommended Style Guide of the Modern Humanities Research Association.

  • The Department's Practical Advice on Preparing MPhil Assessment Work in Linguistics (PDF) is an excellent starting point.

  • Whatever style you adopt, learn and use it early: it saves time in the end, and develops good habits for your later professional life.
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How do I use computer mailing lists?

Jobs and conferences are advertised in various news letters circulated on the internet and so available via computers.

There are many such sources, variously called newsletters, bulletin boards, newsgroups, etc. Most people in this department will probably be content with the Linguistics newsletter, called LINGUIST (or LINGUIST-list). You may want access to others, e.g. foNETiks is for phoneticians.

Many e-mail lists have simplified the process of subscribing by having an on-line form to fill out: e.g. Linguist List

You can access issues of the LINGUIST through WWW (World Wide Web). The address is: http://linguistlist.org/issues/index.html"

Other Lists

You can find various links at http://www.ling.rochester.edu/links.html

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What Software and Fonts are available?

A list is maintained on http://www.sil.org/linguistics/computing.html

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Should I go to conferences?

The MPhil is an intensive course, and so you will probably not have time to go to conferences. However, some students have submitted conference papers about their thesis work. Talk to your supervisor before thinking about conferences.

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How do I move on?

There are two choices after getting an MPhil: continuing on to do a PhD, or working in a non-academic job. Talk to your supervisor as soon as you have decided to apply for a PhD course (see below on deadlines).

A PhD

  • A PhD takes between 3 and 5 years, depending on where you go.
  • Think hard about where you want to do your PhD. Decide on a topic, and then ask which universities will best cater for you.
  • Many students from the MPhil in Linguistics have continued on to do PhDs at Cambridge, but others have applied for other PhD programmes. We are happy to advise and help you no matter where you decide to apply; we can even give advice on where to apply.
  • It is worth knowing that many US graduate programmes will require you to do a full 5-year course, though some are 4 year courses (e.g. MIT); in contrast, British PhD programmes are typically shorter. On the other hand, it is said to be easier to get funding if you are accepted to a top US PhD programme.
  • If you want to apply for a PhD, be aware of the deadlines involved. US PhD programme deadlines are usually in December or early January. The PhD programme at Cambridge, in contrast, requires the application to be in by 31 March, although funding deadlines are likely to be earlier.
  • If you decide to apply for a PhD, you will need to get letters of recommendation. See the department's documentation on this:

Industry

General: electronic lists such as Linguist (see above), Linguistics Association of Great Britain, Linguistic Society of America bulletin, and other subject-related lists in your field of interest; The Guardian (Tuesdays); Times Higher Educational Supplement.

Places in the University, Departmental notice boards; Careers Service; The Reporter (Wednesdays during term) for Oxbridge fellowships, Commonwealth Universities positions.

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How do I maintain motivation and momentum?

  • Build a clear structure into your day.
  • Work out when you're brightest in the day: plan to do your most creative work then. For example, many people find it hard to concentrate immediately after lunch. One supervisor suggests that if you're one of them, a possible working pattern could be: 9-1 reading, analysing data, 2-4 exercise, errands, 4-6.30 writing. Other people write best early in the morning: if that's you, you won't be alone if you start work at 6 or 7 am.
  • When you have learned how you work best and established a good pattern, be realistic about changing it as the changing nature of your work demands. For example, you have large amounts of data to analyse by computer, you can expect to work longer hours than when you are writing full time, which takes more creativity.
  • Take regular exercise, and get another outside interest too. The aim is to spend enough time on exercise and other interests to keep yourself well, happy, and alert, but not so much that there's no time or energy for work. So think twice before you commit yourself to activities like competitive rowing, because the time and energy required often leave students too tired to think well, and they make slow progress in their work.
    A rule of thumb recommended by one Supervisor is: if your leisure activities take up so much time that you can't imagine how you would fit them in if you were doing a demanding professional job, then you're giving your MPhil too low a priority. If on the other hand, you have no leisure activities, then you're probably working too hard, ask yourself if you could achieve the same amount in less time, perhaps by improving your efficiency and concentration: Setting a series of short deadlines can help.
  • Take one day off a week e.g. Sunday.
  • Try to keep up regular social contact with other research students. People in the same boat can provide strong support for each other, and it helps to share your excitement and triumphs, and to know you're not alone in the problems you face.
  • If despite doing all the above, things are going badly, give yourself a treat. It might be a complete break, or something that's relevant to your work but different from what you've been doing recently.
  • If things still go badly, talk about it with your supervisor and/or college tutor. They will want to help.
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