How much linguistics is in computational linguistics?

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

I'm finishing up my degree and I've already taken basically every linguistics class my university offers. Unfortunately, my university doesn't offer anything in computational linguistics. I guess my university is more focused on applied linguistics, language acquisition and TESOL. That stuff doesn't interest me and I think I might be more interested in something like computational linguistics. The problem is I don't really know what computational linguistics is. I already have a solid undergraduate education in the cores of linguistics--phonology, syntax, semantics--and some subfields like sociolinguistics and neurolinguistics. Can anyone who went to or goes to a university with a computational graduate program or knows anyone who has tell me exactly what to expect if I were to go the route of a PhD in computational linguistics? How much will my current knowledge in linguistics come in handy? What other kind of knowledge will I need to have? What is the balance of linguistics and computer science?

[Omnium]

You don't know what computational linguistics is, yet you want to pursue a Ph.D. in it. I don't think that is reasonable.

Get to know what you want to do before you decide if you want to go to a graduate school for that.

Do some research: from a simple googling to going to your school's library. Information is everywhere.

All of your questions is to be answered by your own doing.

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

You don't know what computational linguistics is, yet you want to pursue a Ph.D. in it. I don't think that is reasonable.

Get to know what you want to do before you decide if you want to go to a graduate school for that.

Do some research: from a simple googling to going to your school's library. Information is everywhere.

All of your questions is to be answered by your own doing.

Haha ok smart guy. I like linguistics. I have a degree in linguistics. I'm very good at it. I just feel that what my university has to offer is not what interests me. I was originally a math major before I switched to linguistics. I like almost everything I've encountered in linguistics and I only become frustrated because my university seems to be so limited. I've noticed that the things I've liked the most were a little math-ish, meaning they had some formula/puzzle solving elements to them, such as almost everything in syntax, transcribing in phonology, and logic problems in semantics. I've told professors and faculty at my school that those things interest me the most and I keep hearing people mentioning that computational linguistics might be the thing for me. I've looked into computational linguistics and all the schools that offer it and I still haven't really been able to get a clear understanding of exactly what it is based on my research. I recently saw that many of the programs that offer computational linguistics have a lot of math and computer science prerequisites. I've already taken the math so I was thinking of spending a year doing post-bacc and taking the computer science courses I may need. It isn't like I haven't done the research and am not willing to put in the work.

Mr. Omnium, please don't try to make me look like a fool, and Mr. Fuzzylogician, please don't one-up his attempts. I asked a legitimate question and would like a legitimate response. I was asking how much an education in general linguistics would come in handy and what kind of other knowledge would be useful if I were to go the computational linguistics route. If you're gonna be a dick don't bother answering. I have a year to figure out what I want to do before I apply. I'm curious about computational linguistics and it might be something that I would want to apply to. If not, I'm highly qualified to apply to programs in general linguistics. I saw that most computational linguistics programs offer many classes in general linguistics while offering electives and a few cores in computational, so it might be something I'd be interested in if I get more information. So that's what I'm doing--asking questions on a grad school forum to get more information.

Edited January 6, 2013 by JoeyBoy718

[fuzzylogician]

First off, not being told what you want to hear is not the same as not getting a "legitimate response." I think Omniun makes a very good point: how can you want a PhD in a subfield you don't know at all? You need to do your own legwork here, and you're not helping yourself by outsourcing this part of preparing for PhD applications. Go on the websites of a few programs that have good computational linguistics; look up their PhD requirements, look at their course offerings, find out what the faculty's interests and current research is about, and find out what current graduate students and recent alums are working on. That will give you the answers to the questions you asked (and a few you didn't) - how much knowledge in linguistics you'll need to have coming in, and how much you will acquire during your studies; what other knowledge you'll need to have coming in and what you'll learn during the degree; what kind of work is normally done in computational linguistics; and the balance between linguistics and CS in the program.

 

Second, if you don't want my "dick" advice, stop PMing me to solicit it. I don't need to waste my time on people who don't appreciate it (or bother to know my gender, and address me using rude language).

[iExcelAtMicrosoftPuns]

http://www.mitpressjournals.org/toc/coli/38/4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computational_linguistics
http://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/~hansu/what_is_cl.html
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2015944


If you'd like I'll read these articles for you and summarize them.

and perhaps I'll submit a paper on your behalf

and perhaps I'll contact some POI's and rate graduate programs based on where you would most like to live (do you prefer desert climates, tropical, seasonal, or cold?)

Tell you what I'll even write your SOP- and defend your dissertation.

Thank you for this opportunity.