Although both of these degrees may prepare graduates for some similar roles, such as in translation or foreign language teaching positions, a degree in linguistics involves the scientific study of language itself. Linguistics majors study the structure and components of language, such as sound, words, and sentence formation, as well as the purpose and evolution of language. Students majoring in a foreign language, on the other hand, will take a deep-dive into the language, literature, and culture of a country with the goal of becoming a fluent speaker in that language.