Online Language Degree

Language degree programs are varied and interesting. Some programs focus on the way language is created, used and understood in various cultures and communities. Others focus on the importance of understanding additional languages and work to increase your knowledge of other languages and cultures. Regardless of which path your language degree program took, you have a lot of options for your career path. Your personal interests dictate your career as much as your training does.

Translator

Translators make up a significant portion of language degree holders. Translators work for international organizations, governments and private businesses. Translators use their skills in understanding language usage and development in their daily work.

Language degrees that have some focus on foreign language skills fare best in this occupation because they use the languages they have mastered and their own regularly. They are able to gain a better understanding of all language through usage.

Interpreter

The position of interpreter is a great one for people who are not full bi- or multilingual. An understanding of the languages and the ability to communicate the ideas between languages is necessary, but not on an advanced level. Interpreters work to make people understand one another rather than giving a word-for-word explanation.

Government jobs require a complete fluency in all languages spoken, but some companies and international organizations requirements are usually less stringent. There are a number of different types of interpreting careers which include simultaneous interpreting, consecutive interpreting and escort interpreting, among others.

Lexicographer

A lexicographer uses the knowledge gained in a language degree to work in the creation and maintenance of language in dictionaries. There are two types of lexicographers, practical and theoretical.

Practical lexicographers use their knowledge of the language to compile, write and edit dictionaries. Theoretical lexicographers (or metalexicographers) analyze and describe the relation of word in the vocabulary (lexicon). They develop theories on semantic relationships, language structure and components of dictionaries.

Some examples of careers that make use of a Language degree include:

• Interpreter
• Language engineer
• Linguist
• Subtitler
• Terminologist
• Transcriptionist
• Translator
• Audiologist
• Bilingual Education
• Communication Disorders Specialist
• Psycholinguist
• Cultural Affairs Officer
• Immigration Officer
• Import/Export Specialist