About Linguistics HQ

I’m Dr Rebecca Mitchell, an affiliated lecturer in the departments of French and linguistics at the University of Cambridge who has also taught modern languages at secondary level for two decades at the Perse School, Cambridge. I’m particularly interested in African sociolinguistics, and my PhD and subsequent work has focussed on Gabon and Cameroon. I’m also a qualified translator and interpreter. For years I have worked on my own initiative to raise awareness of languages and linguistics through educational talks for students, language professionals, and people who simply enjoy learning about languages. Previous audiences have included GCHQ, the Civil Service, the Chartered Institute of Linguists, the Blue Badge Tour Guide network, the Language Show, #ThinkLanguages Dublin, and numerous schools and colleges. I am always struck by how much enthusiasm these talks generate, even among people who maybe hadn’t thought much about linguistics before, such as a maths teacher who declared that he’d never have done a maths degree if someone had told him about linguistics when he was younger! It’s this enthusiasm which has inspired me to create Linguistics HQ, a platform for sharing my knowledge and experience and getting people thinking, talking and learning about linguistics. Get in touch to find out more!