AN INTRODUCTION TO APPLIED LINGUISTICS

AN INTRODUCTION TO APPLIED LINGUISTICS

1. HISTORY AND DEFINITIONS

   • is concerned with the systematic study of language structure, the acquisition of first and subsequent languages, the role of language in communication, and the status of language as the product of particular cultures and other social groups.
   • he difficulty of satisfactorily defining the discipline of applied linguistics is made apparent. It is notable that D moves away from the previously held—and quite narrowly-focused—definition restricted only to language teaching. An equally complex task is teasing apart the fields of general or theoretical linguistics and applied linguistics

2. THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPERIENCE

   • The importance of experience’, centers on the work applied linguists actually do. A number of case studies are outlined (e.g. workplace communication, assessing English as a lingua franca, pedagogical grammar), each of which essentially poses a problem whose solution is fostered by linguistic theory.

3. LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGE PRACTICE

   • provides examples to distinguish the roles of linguists and applied linguists, roles that differ even when examining the same phenomenon or situation. For example, listening to speech samples from an aboriginal community in Australia in which the first language is no longer used by many may prompt a linguist to write a grammar of that language. An applied linguist, in contrast, might focus on whether steps should be taken to help maintain that language. Discussion of gender-related language issues as well as clinical linguistics provides further illustration of the separate, although somewhat intertwined, roles of linguists and applied linguists

4. APPLIED LINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGE LEARNING

   • touches on divergent views of the breadth of subject matter contained by applied linguistics. Noted here are various subspecializations of applied linguistics, including fields such as curriculum planning, applied sociolinguistics, language-teacher training, language in the workplace, and forensic language studies. This chapter also provides insight into how the applied linguist grapples with particular problems and issues in the area of teaching and learning language.

5. THE PROFESSIONALISING OF APPLIED LINGUISTS

   • additional insight is provided on the role of the applied linguist in contexts outside teaching and learning. Issues addressed include the role of the applied linguist in the courtroom, in which the testimony of the applied linguist may be a factor in determining guilt or innocence of a defendant.

6. APPLIED LINGUISTICS: NO "BOOKISH THEORIC"

   • analyzes applied linguistics in the context of intellectual movements or approaches such as structuralism. Recommendations for future directions of applied linguistics are touched on as wel

7. APPLIED LINGUISTICS CHALLENGE

   • provides a brief summary of the book. The eight chapters are followed by a glossary and a set of exercises.

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