Applied Linguistics

AL
Lec. 1
 How did the term come into
existence?

 The term Applied Linguistics (AL) is an Anglo-

American coinage.
 In Britain, the establishment of the University of
Edinburgh School of Applied Linguistics in 1956.
 In the United States, the establishment of the Center of
Applied Linguistics in Washington D.C. in 1957.
 The beginnings

 AL use was propagated by those who clearly

wanted to be known as scientists and not as
humanists.

 AL in the past based itself mainly on the

findings of theoretical linguistics especially in
language teaching.
 General Linguistics & Applied
Linguistics

Unlike general linguistics, applied

linguistics (AL) does not regard language as
an isolated subject to be examined away
from its social environment
 General Points

By the time AL has been found to make use

of many sciences in language teaching, like:
linguistics, psychology, sociology, and
education.
 What is applied linguistics

Crystal (1985)
AL is a branch of linguistics…where the
primary concern is the application of
linguistic theories, methods and findings to
the elucidation of language problems which
have arisen in other areas of experience.
 What is applied linguistics?

Corder (1974)

AL is the utilization of the knowledge

about the nature of language achieved by
linguistic research for the improvement of
the efficiency of some practical task in
which language is a central component.
 What is applied linguistics?

Streven (1992)

AL is a multidisciplinary approach to the

solution of language-related problems.
 What is applied linguistics?

Schmitt (2002)
It is using what we know about (i)
languag, (ii) how it is learned, & (iii) how
it is used in order to achieve some
purpose or solve some problem in the
real world.
 What is applied linguistics?

Kaplan (2002)

Applied linguistics is a practice-driven

discipline that addresses language-based
problems in real world contexts
However,
Critics note that AL is both too fragmented
&
 AL covers 2 main areas:

1. The study of second and foreign

language learning and teaching.
2. The study of language and linguistics
in relation to practical problems.
Applied linguistics has always been
concerned with…

2nd language acquisition theory (language

learning, 2nd language pedagogy
(language teaching), & the interference
between the two.
 References

 Noor, H, & Alqadi, N. (2003). A Course in Applied

Linguistics: for EFL/ ESL Arab Students. Almadinah
Almonwarah: Dar Aliman (Chapter 1)

 Kaplan, Robert, N. (2002). The Oxford Handbook of

Applied Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford UP. (Chapter 1)
 Applied linguistics is concerned
with…

1. Language & language acquisition

2. Language & assessment
3. Language & the brain
4. Language & cognition
5. Language & culture
 Applied linguistics is concerned
with…

6. Language & ideology

7. Language & instruction
8. Language & interaction
9. Language & listening, speaking,
10.Language & reading, writing language
& media
 Applied linguistics is concerned
with…

11. Language & policy

12. language & research methodology
13. language & translation/ interpretation
14. language & technology
English is the main 2nd language being
learned & studied in the world today;
there are 235 million L2 learners.
 AL & wrong structures

e.g. Double & multiple negatives:

I don’t want need no help from no body!