Our new MSc in Language Technologies is aimed at those seeking to develop critical understanding of issues pertaining to the development and application of computer technology to language-based problems, and to prepare them for a career in the fast-growing field of language technologies.

Students following this course will have the opportunity to explore issues relating to the distinct context of language-based problems and their treatment in automated machine applications. You will undertake study of a variety of academic, scientific and applied approaches to language structure and language technologies, with a general focus on both linguistic theory and technological applications. Through this course you will develop an understanding of key issues, including: language structure, natural language processing, translation practice, machine-based learning and corpus analysis.

This course also provides the opportunity for you to carry out a practical research project, as well as the potential to collaborate with Bangor University's Language Technologies Unit and use tools and resources from the their Welsh National Language Technologies Portal.

What will you study on this course?

Students will be trained in various areas of language technologies such as natural language processing, speech science and automated translation. The course will enable you to develop the necessary skills to be able to conduct independent experimental research and develop potential solutions to problems in automated language use and machine-based language processing.

Topics will be introduced and explored with a firm basis in relevant theory and students will be given the opportunity to deal with subjects in a critical and rigorously scientific manner.

Students on this course will complete a total of 180 comprising taught modules (120 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits).

Compulsory/core modules:

• Natural Language Processing (20 credits)
• Language Technologies / Technolegau Iaith (20)
• Translation in Practice (20)

Those without a computer science background will also take Introduction to Programming (20 credits).  Students without a linguistics background will be required to take Foundation of Linguistics (20 credits).

There will also be select Optional Modules available each year. These may include:

• Psycholinguistics (20 credits)
• L1 & L2 Sentence Processing (20)
• L2 Speech Learning (20)
• Speech Science (20)
• Using Corpora: Theory & Practice (2-)
• Morphosyntactic structures (20) optional for those students without a linguistics background

This course includes a strong practical component intended to produce skilled researchers and practitioners. Students will be taught research skills and methods relevant to the field, and as part of their degree will undertake a Dissertation (60 credits) under the supervision of a staff member with a relevant research focus.

This MSc develops skills and knowledge that employers need in a number of areas related to the field of language technologies, especially areas such as natural language processing, machine translation, text-to-speech conversion. You will also find that you develop transferable skills that will allow you to progress to different career areas or to continue your studies at PhD level in language technologies or a related field.

Graduates from this course will appeal to employers in a wide variety of fields related to the broader field of linguistics (e.g. education, management, government, research, health) especially where an understanding of language and human-machine interaction are needed. Others may seek to pursue careers where an understanding of language-based problems is relevant (e.g. translation, software development, cryptography, language planning). To that end, a Masters in Language Technologies might go on to obtain professional qualifications or to further enhance their employability in their chosen field.

Bilingualism is the study of the way speakers of two (or more) languages acquire and use their languages and how these languages are represented in the mind. Our courses provide the necessary theoretical, analytical and methodological tools and skills to undertake advanced research in a specialist field.