Definition of the Program

The Master of Arts in Linguistics is a two-year postgraduate program structured under the semester system. It is designed to prepare students for careers as theoretical linguists, field linguists, and applied linguists. The program provides a strong foundation in both general and applied linguistics, aiming to promote linguistic analysis and its practical application in areas such as education, translation, literacy, and language planning.

This program encourages interdisciplinary learning and emphasizes the study and documentation of Nepal’s rich linguistic diversity. It prepares students to work in fields where linguistic knowledge can be applied to benefit communities and contribute to national development.

General Objectives

The MA Linguistics program is designed to:

• Develop students’ ability to analyze languages scientifically.

• Prepare them for careers in linguistic research, education, translation, and related areas.

• Promote linguistic documentation and description of Nepal’s languages.

• Encourage interdisciplinary and applied use of linguistics in real-world contexts.

Specific Course Objectives

Upon completing the program, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate deep knowledge in core areas of linguistics such as phonetics, syntax, semantics, etc.

• Analyze and describe languages using linguistic tools.

• Apply linguistic knowledge to practical fields like language teaching, lexicography, translation, policy-making, and revitalization.

• Engage in scholarly research and contribute to linguistic development at national and international levels.

Salient Features

• Four semesters over two academic years.

• A total of 60 credit hours, each equivalent to 16 teaching hours.

• Emphasis on both theoretical and applied linguistics.

• Medium of instruction and assessment is English.

• Inclusion of project work and dissertation in the final semester.

• Focus on field work, hands-on analysis, and real-life language issues.

Evaluation System

There are two components of evaluation:

1. External Examination (60%)

• Conducted at the end of each semester by the Dean’s Office.

• Questions include long answer, short answer, and very short answer types.

2. Internal Assessment (40%)

• Includes:

  • Class attendance and participation

  • Midterm written and practical exams

  • Presentations and project work

  • Field work and term papers

3. Dissertation

• Evaluated by an external examiner and the internal supervisor.

Eligibility

• Bachelor’s degree in any discipline is acceptable.

• Preference is given to candidates with a background in linguistics.

• Candidates must pass an entrance examination that tests their English language proficiency.

• No provision for private or non-regular candidates.

• All instruction, writing, and assessment are conducted in English.

Curricular Structure

The MA Linguistics program is divided into four semesters, each consisting of 15 credit hours. The course includes both compulsory and specialization/elective components, culminating in a dissertation.

First Year

I Semester

II Semester

Second Year

III Semester

Specialization options in III Semester:

• Advanced Phonetics

• Advanced Phonology

• Advanced Morphology

• Advanced Syntax

• Advanced Pragmatics

• Corpus Linguistics

• Computational Linguistics

• Functional-Typological Grammar

• Lexical Functional Grammar

• Role and Reference Grammar

• Minimalist Program

• Cognitive Linguistics

IV Semester

Applied Linguistics options in IV Semester:

• Bilingualism and Multilingualism

• Linguistic Anthropology

• Second Language Acquisition

• Spoken Language

• Language Contact

• Language Documentation

• Language Teaching

• Multilingual Education

• Lexicography

• Literary Linguistics

• Language Policy and Planning

• Language Revitalization

• Clinical Linguistics

• Forensic Linguistics

• Translation Studies

Conclusion

The MA in Linguistics at Tribhuvan University provides comprehensive training in linguistic theory and practice. With a balance of foundational knowledge, specialization, and real-world application, the program is ideal for students seeking to advance in academic research, education, language development, or linguistic services in multilingual contexts like Nepal.