Student Profile

Hello, my name is Leonardo Cristóbal Corrales Torres and I have been studying Linguistics and German as my majors here at Waikato for three years.

Since childhood I have been interested in all sorts of languages. I found and still find fascinating the fact that we, as human beings, have developed so many different ways to communicate with each other. This interest and fascination with language led me into Linguistics. Studying Linguistics was a dream of mine for several years until it finally came true when I enrolled in the Department of Linguistics here at Waikato University. The papers offered at the Department have not only helped me develop a better understanding of language in all its facets, but have also increased my desire to pursue further research in the field.

Even though I am of the opinion that all the papers offered for Linguistics are excellent, I have to say that I have three favorites: Describing Language (LING131), General Linguistics (LING231) and Historical Linguistics (LING301). LING131 & LING231 introduce the student to the analysis and description of languages as well as the phonological, morphological and syntactical aspects of language. In LING301, one has the chance to put all that knowledge into practice whilst trying to propose changes that have occurred in different languages throughout the years.

I learned a lot from all the papers and I am looking forward to working in the field of linguistics in the future. Even though I have not yet decided what I want to do after I finish my studies, I am certain that I would love to work doing language research.

If you are curious about language and want to learn more about it, the Department of Linguistics in Waikato is your answer. The Department offers interesting and challenging papers, which will provide you with the keys to unlock doors that lead you to a better understanding of your own language as well as other foreign languages you might know or plan to study. Do not hesitate, enroll now in Linguistics and start unlocking some of the mysteries of language.