The Department of Languages, Literature and Communication focusses on the fundamentals of language, on language in interpersonal communication and on language as a medium of cultural expression. With a staff of more than 200, it brings together expertise in the fields of linguistics, communication sciences, comparative literature, and European languages and cultures. It is responsible for 10 Bachelor and 17 Master programmes as well as for doctorate training in these areas. Research is conducted under the auspices of the Institute for Language Sciences (ILS) and the interdepartmental Institute for Cultural Inquiry (ICON).