An etymologist studies the origin of words.
The etymology of the word dates back to the 14th century in France and is derived from a Greek term meaning “true meaning”. The word itself is an apt description for the field that reveals the origin, history, and changing meanings of the words. A person who has ever wondered where words come from, how and why they have changed over the years, might consider training as an etymologist.
One of the main requirements of the etymologist is the love of words and the desire for truth. There are many stories about the origin of words, and sometimes these stories turn out to be true, but it is part of the job to separate fact from fiction, even at the risk of discrediting a widely accepted story. Etymologists must be prepared to delve into the confusion of the world’s languages in order to discern the language(s) of origin of the word, as well as the time and place where it first appeared.
Working as an etymologist begins with education and training. A degree in linguistics, philology, language studies, or another area directly related to language in this field is preferred, although those with a similar passion can also work as educators, writers, or editors and obtain the necessary training and credentials for these fields . A graduate degree is not required, but is preferred by most employers. Anyone exploring the area can expect to spend four to eight years of education to find a job.
There is no standard job description and every job is different. An etymologist working for a university might be working on rooting out obscure words in an ancient manuscript, while someone employed by a private company might be working with software developers to create programming languages that resemble human speech patterns. Etymologists’ roles vary as much as the job description, with each job requiring etymologists to work in a slightly different capacity.
The job is not physically demanding. Most etymologists work indoors in an office. It is usually possible to maintain normal business hours. Interaction with others ranges from virtually non-existent to almost constant, depending on the exact job description. An etymologist working as a linguistics teacher will have more social interaction than someone working to decipher a word or phrase.