Linguistics vs. English departments

[Pike Bishop]

3. They're barely related.

English departments are Liberal Arts departments teaching proper use of the English language, English and American literature, and literary appreciation/interpretation.

Linguistics departments take scientific approaches to the study of the elements and dynamics of language in general, as well as in specific languages.

As an English professor, I can tell you that the two disciplines rarely cross and there is rarely interaction between them, much less tension. If there is interaction, it is usually between linguistics scholars interested in literature or literature scholars interested in linguistics. Those people usually get along in both departments.