Introflective, Reflective Musings; Input Sought

[dcseain]

I read ozarque's journal regularly. For those of you not familiar, it's the journal of Suzette Haden Elgin. Today, she posted this, and i followed the link in the post and read what was there.

What said link leads to is a single-page PDF entitled Phonosemantic Coherence in English Assonances. It's worth looking at it, even though i think most of you will find it boringish, if interesting, for looking at it will give you some context for what follows.

I've done analyses like that one many times, usually after working with Middle English or earlier texts. I've been thinking more and more that i ought to go back to school for linguistics. Studying linguistics would please me, and i could likely make a handy career of some stripe with it.

I left university 14 years ago, uncertain what i wanted to do with my life. Well, quelle surprise, i'm not really any closer to knowing that than i was at 21. I left primarily because my university killed my, and several other, degree programs. At any rate, that's water well under the bridge.

I've worked mostly in the computer field for the last 15 years. I've got a decent job which is challenging, has a great work environment, and a nice commute. I work for a small enough company that eventually i'll be able to find, or propose, a job that will fit me like a glove within the organization.

At the same time, i'd always imagined i'd be teaching language and/or history by the time i was 40 or so. A deep-seated desire to teach has been one constant in my life since i was about 6. Seeing that paper leaves me conflicted about what to do, and unsure about what to do if i do decide to pursue the linguistics thing.

So what advice do you have for me? I'll gladly answer whatever questions you may have about this also, as i'm sure i'm leaving out information you may want. Thanks in advance for your input.

(And for what it's worth, LJ's spell checker knows not the words Phonosemantic nor Assonances, though i suppose those are jargon enough that it needn't know them. But neither does it know the plural form of analysis. Hmph.)

Comments

[sharrainchains.livejournal.com]

My opinion is that if you feel that way, you should take some action towards your goal: "Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it." -- Goethe

If you are interested in trying to teach an occasional course on an adjunct basis, let me know: I will introduce you to a friend who is a dean at a small, private, local college. He might have a place for you - or at least some referrals/advice.

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

We can talk over dinner tomorow, for there be much to discuss as i recall.