Applied and Computational Linguistics

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Information on the Course of Studies

1 The field of "Applied and Computational Linguistics"
1.1 What does Linguistics mean?
The science of language - lingustics is just another word - is one of the oldest existing sciences. Even in antiquity, mankind thought again and again about the structure of language and the relationship of language and the mind, the reciprocal relationship of languages, or the change of language. In the 19th century, linguistics could establish itself as an academic discipline, which focused, at that time, on the historical development of language. Finally, in the 20th century the exploration of language neglecting its historical relationships came into focus, often with the help of formalized instruments.
Linguistics' main emphasis has always been based on grammar. Every language can be divided into words, which have their very own structure. On the basis of very complicated rules words can be combined to sentences. The goal of combining words into sentences is to create a new complex meaning from the meanings of the individual words. While investigating grammar, many contexts between the external form of language and the significance and use of sentences could be clarified.
Linguistics investigates, besides grammar, also the level underneath words and that above sentences. Combining sounds into syllables is subject to certain rules, as well as combining sentences into texts or dialogues. Also, the use of language in dependence on social or specific group factors or the processing of language in the human mind will meanwhile be examined.
Linguistics as a major can be studied at several universities. No certain language is in the focus of consideration. The philological courses of studies (German studies, English language and literature, Romance languages and literature etc.) comprise also a linguistical part. The German/English/Romance linguistics refers in that case naturally only to certain languages.
1.2 What is Applied Linguistics?
In the beginning of lingustics its reflections were focused on certain application. Thus Roman grammarians were interested in setting up stylistic and rhetorical rules in order to obtain an effective entrance, e.g., on court. Already long ago, Indian linguists' work had the cause to reconstrust old religious texts into their original meaning. Those texts could only partly be understood.
Nowadays modern linguistics' results are applied to draft material for language teaching, analyze political discussions or to set up rules for drafting comprehensible manuals. What these appliances share is the fact that models of language and communication which have been developed in linguistics can be transferred into fields where linguistic work is part of a more comprehensive work with a certain aim. Many of these appliances in linguistics have led to further questions which have been integrated into linguistics as a new subdivision (e.g., language acquisition or social linguistics).
1.3 What is Computational Linguistics?
In the forties, already shortly after the development of the first computers, automatic language processing had become a crucial topic. Until the sixties, the focus of interest had been on machine translation - in the sign of the Cold War mainly translations into English and Russian. Problems which occurred gradually in this context led finally to more and more comprehensive models for language processing which eventually were summarized in the subject of Computational Linguistics. If general linguistics deals, e.g., with the investigation of a language's grammar, so computational linguistics puts emphasis on automatically analyzing a sentence on the basis of such a grammar or the automatic production of sentences. Thus computational linguistcs is process-oriented.
1.4. Applied Linguistics and Computational Linguistics in Gießen
To interconnect into one course of studies the disciplines of Applied Linguistics and Computational Linguistics is a new idea. Computational Linguistics which has meanwhile been split up into many subdivisions is limited to those parts which are necessary for the automatic processing of common problems. In Gießen the processing of texts in publishing houses and companies has been chosen as the most important area of application. The efficient production of large amounts of texts, their up-dating and transformation into different medias (as, e. g., print, Internet, CD-ROM) has meanwhile led to a technology of its own. Commanding this technology has, in some branches, become decisive for success or failure. Some texts which are published in houses that put emphasis on nonfiction books, e.g., are described by grammars in order to grant the same structures in every step of processing. New books must sometimes be produced so fast that this can only be achieved by automatic computational methods.
Studies of Applied and Computational Linguistics are organized in close relationship to a lingustic major of another philology offered in Gießen (German studies, English language and literature, Romance languages and literature, Slavonic studies). Major and minor are regarded as a unit that brings together topics of applied linguistics, computational linguistics, general linguistics and language-oriented linguistics. You can put additional emphasis on your studies by the choice of the second minor, as, e. g., by further deepening or acquiring special knowledge.
1.5 Hints on Reading
The following book is the best in order to get to know the whole range of lingustic themes.
Crystal, David: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997 [Second edition].
This book is also available in a German edition, however the numerous pictures in it are printed only in black and white but nevertheless it is expensive. Contradictory to its name, the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language is not an encyclopedia which is arranged alphabetically but it contains on the whole 65 independent depictions of linguistic topics. Theorectic main disciplines are taken into account as well as Computational Linguistics, language acquisition, language planning or the languages of the world in their mutual relationship.
The two books of the scientific journalist Dieter E. Zimmer are very interesting introductions.
Zimmer, Dieter E.: So kommt der Mensch zur Sprache: über Spracherwerb, Sprachentstehung und Sprache & Denken. Heyne, 1994.
Zimmer, Dieter E.: Die Elektrifizierung der Sprache. Über Sprechen, Schreiben, Computer, Gehirne und Geist. Heyne, 1997.
At the University of Bielefeld a very short introduction to linguistics has been written for those interested in these sudies; it is based closer on the real contents of studies.
Bielefelder Linguistik: Linguistik - Die Bielefelder Sicht. Bielefeld: Aisthesis Verlag, 1997.
Finally, let me hint at two novels. The American David Carkeet, linguist himself, describes in Minus mal Minus (Diogenes' paperback) how the linguist Jeremy Cook in the Wabash Institute of applied lingustics solves a case of murder only by analyzing the language of a todler. In The whole catastrophe (also Diogenes' paperback) David Carkeet tells in a very humerous way, how Jeremy Cook tries to be a lingusitic counsellor on relationships.
2 Conditions for studies
If you are interested in the studies of Applied and Computational Linguistics, you should mainly show a general interest in language. This can be, e.g., the occupation with grammars, language history, learning of languages or the problem of language and thinking. Furthermore you should not be frightened if you see a formula. In the 20th century the formal description of language has become very important in linguistics, however with instruments that you need not know to handle from school. Finally, it is very important for computational linguistics that you are willing to use the computer not only as a medium but actively as a tool. This means, e.g., independent programming of computational methods or computational based manufacture of grammars.
3 Studies and professional qualification
The minor Applied and Computational Linguistics for Master of Arts can be studied in connection with a linguistic major. Besides you can choose a second minor or two elements of studies. Your criteria of choice can be personal interest or professional orientation. A useful combination represent the following subjects:

psychology, mainly with focus on cognitive psychology
education/didactics
German as a foreign language
business management
study of law
an additional philology

It is important that you consider the second minor as an integral part of the studies since very often the acquired special qualifications in the second minor achieve a particular meaning.
Usually, the studies for Master of Arts are not orientated towards a specified professional work as, e.g., teacher training. Therefore it is very important to supplement the studies with a practical work right from the start. The best opportunities offer pracitcal trainings which are organized by firms or publishing houses during the vacation. The latter have a deep interest in the acquired special knowledge during your studies. Very often these practical trainings lead to employments even before officially finishing studies. The chair in applied and computational linguistics holds agreements of cooperation with some firms and publishing houses, which supervise practical trainings; these can be arranged for students who are interested. If you supplement studies with useful practical trainings, so you have very good chances to be employed directly. However, if practical trainings as a means of qualification are neglected, so temporal difficulties can come up even in an application-oriented subject.

Information on the Course of Studies



1 The field of "Applied and Computational Linguistics" 1.1 What does Linguistics mean? The science of language - lingustics is just another word - is one of the oldest existing sciences. Even in antiquity, mankind thought again and again about the structure of language and the relationship of language and the mind, the reciprocal relationship of languages, or the change of language. In the 19th century, linguistics could establish itself as an academic discipline, which focused, at that time, on the historical development of language. Finally, in the 20th century the exploration of language neglecting its historical relationships came into focus, often with the help of formalized instruments. Linguistics' main emphasis has always been based on grammar. Every language can be divided into words, which have their very own structure. On the basis of very complicated rules words can be combined to sentences. The goal of combining words into sentences is to create a new complex meaning from the meanings of the individual words. While investigating grammar, many contexts between the external form of language and the significance and use of sentences could be clarified. Linguistics investigates, besides grammar, also the level underneath words and that above sentences. Combining sounds into syllables is subject to certain rules, as well as combining sentences into texts or dialogues. Also, the use of language in dependence on social or specific group factors or the processing of language in the human mind will meanwhile be examined. Linguistics as a major can be studied at several universities. No certain language is in the focus of consideration. The philological courses of studies (German studies, English language and literature, Romance languages and literature etc.) comprise also a linguistical part. The German/English/Romance linguistics refers in that case naturally only to certain languages. 1.2 What is Applied Linguistics? In the beginning of lingustics its reflections were focused on certain application. Thus Roman grammarians were interested in setting up stylistic and rhetorical rules in order to obtain an effective entrance, e.g., on court. Already long ago, Indian linguists' work had the cause to reconstrust old religious texts into their original meaning. Those texts could only partly be understood. Nowadays modern linguistics' results are applied to draft material for language teaching, analyze political discussions or to set up rules for drafting comprehensible manuals. What these appliances share is the fact that models of language and communication which have been developed in linguistics can be transferred into fields where linguistic work is part of a more comprehensive work with a certain aim. Many of these appliances in linguistics have led to further questions which have been integrated into linguistics as a new subdivision (e.g., language acquisition or social linguistics). 1.3 What is Computational Linguistics? In the forties, already shortly after the development of the first computers, automatic language processing had become a crucial topic. Until the sixties, the focus of interest had been on machine translation - in the sign of the Cold War mainly translations into English and Russian. Problems which occurred gradually in this context led finally to more and more comprehensive models for language processing which eventually were summarized in the subject of Computational Linguistics. If general linguistics deals, e.g., with the investigation of a language's grammar, so computational linguistics puts emphasis on automatically analyzing a sentence on the basis of such a grammar or the automatic production of sentences. Thus computational linguistcs is process-oriented. 1.4. Applied Linguistics and Computational Linguistics in Gießen To interconnect into one course of studies the disciplines of Applied Linguistics and Computational Linguistics is a new idea. Computational Linguistics which has meanwhile been split up into many subdivisions is limited to those parts which are necessary for the automatic processing of common problems. In Gießen the processing of texts in publishing houses and companies has been chosen as the most important area of application. The efficient production of large amounts of texts, their up-dating and transformation into different medias (as, e. g., print, Internet, CD-ROM) has meanwhile led to a technology of its own. Commanding this technology has, in some branches, become decisive for success or failure. Some texts which are published in houses that put emphasis on nonfiction books, e.g., are described by grammars in order to grant the same structures in every step of processing. New books must sometimes be produced so fast that this can only be achieved by automatic computational methods. Studies of Applied and Computational Linguistics are organized in close relationship to a lingustic major of another philology offered in Gießen (German studies, English language and literature, Romance languages and literature, Slavonic studies). Major and minor are regarded as a unit that brings together topics of applied linguistics, computational linguistics, general linguistics and language-oriented linguistics. You can put additional emphasis on your studies by the choice of the second minor, as, e. g., by further deepening or acquiring special knowledge. 1.5 Hints on Reading The following book is the best in order to get to know the whole range of lingustic themes. Crystal, David: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997 [Second edition]. This book is also available in a German edition, however the numerous pictures in it are printed only in black and white but nevertheless it is expensive. Contradictory to its name, the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language is not an encyclopedia which is arranged alphabetically but it contains on the whole 65 independent depictions of linguistic topics. Theorectic main disciplines are taken into account as well as Computational Linguistics, language acquisition, language planning or the languages of the world in their mutual relationship. The two books of the scientific journalist Dieter E. Zimmer are very interesting introductions. Zimmer, Dieter E.: So kommt der Mensch zur Sprache: über Spracherwerb, Sprachentstehung und Sprache & Denken. Heyne, 1994. Zimmer, Dieter E.: Die Elektrifizierung der Sprache. Über Sprechen, Schreiben, Computer, Gehirne und Geist. Heyne, 1997. At the University of Bielefeld a very short introduction to linguistics has been written for those interested in these sudies; it is based closer on the real contents of studies. Bielefelder Linguistik: Linguistik - Die Bielefelder Sicht. Bielefeld: Aisthesis Verlag, 1997. Finally, let me hint at two novels. The American David Carkeet, linguist himself, describes in Minus mal Minus (Diogenes' paperback) how the linguist Jeremy Cook in the Wabash Institute of applied lingustics solves a case of murder only by analyzing the language of a todler. In The whole catastrophe (also Diogenes' paperback) David Carkeet tells in a very humerous way, how Jeremy Cook tries to be a lingusitic counsellor on relationships. 2 Conditions for studies If you are interested in the studies of Applied and Computational Linguistics, you should mainly show a general interest in language. This can be, e.g., the occupation with grammars, language history, learning of languages or the problem of language and thinking. Furthermore you should not be frightened if you see a formula. In the 20th century the formal description of language has become very important in linguistics, however with instruments that you need not know to handle from school. Finally, it is very important for computational linguistics that you are willing to use the computer not only as a medium but actively as a tool. This means, e.g., independent programming of computational methods or computational based manufacture of grammars. 3 Studies and professional qualification The minor Applied and Computational Linguistics for Master of Arts can be studied in connection with a linguistic major. Besides you can choose a second minor or two elements of studies. Your criteria of choice can be personal interest or professional orientation. A useful combination represent the following subjects: psychology, mainly with focus on cognitive psychology education/didactics German as a foreign language business management study of law an additional philology It is important that you consider the second minor as an integral part of the studies since very often the acquired special qualifications in the second minor achieve a particular meaning. Usually, the studies for Master of Arts are not orientated towards a specified professional work as, e.g., teacher training. Therefore it is very important to supplement the studies with a practical work right from the start. The best opportunities offer pracitcal trainings which are organized by firms or publishing houses during the vacation. The latter have a deep interest in the acquired special knowledge during your studies. Very often these practical trainings lead to employments even before officially finishing studies. The chair in applied and computational linguistics holds agreements of cooperation with some firms and publishing houses, which supervise practical trainings; these can be arranged for students who are interested. If you supplement studies with useful practical trainings, so you have very good chances to be employed directly. However, if practical trainings as a means of qualification are neglected, so temporal difficulties can come up even in an application-oriented subject.

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