The definition of applied linguistics and its scope

Definitions

Applied linguistics is not easy to define because people would think of many things when it comes to applied linguistics. In fact, those who practice applied linguistics do not agree upon a certain definition. Therefore, there is a gap that needs to be filled in terms of defining applied linguistics. The definition problem is due to the lack of agreement on what is that to be applied?" A mediation between theory and practice "as Kaplan and Widdowson, " a synthesis from a variety of disciplines including linguistics" as Hudson said, "presupposition of linguistics because a person cannot apply what he does not know" as Corder implied.

In addition, an extreme area of applied linguistics that is called critical applied linguistics highlights the following concerns and issues like identity, ethics, disparity, desire and the reproduction of otherness that have not been up to now considered to be connected to applied linguistics. What have been mentioned is an attempt to use applied linguistics concerns and activities to explain and analyze what applied linguistics methods and purposes are. This is called the ostensive definition approach.

These ostensive views have a problem because they really do not help in creating syllabuses in applied linguistics and they do not help in determining what things that are needed to be included in the profession. Those who argue for a dictionary definition believed that applied linguistics has a core do not accept ostensive definitions. For example, Widdowson claims that applied linguistics has got a core and he rejects the claim that says that applied linguistics is a mixture of many disciplines.

Widdowson and Cook believed that "the task of applied linguistics is to mediate between linguistics and language use". Another definition of applied linguistics by Guy Cook is "the academic discipline concerned with the relation of knowledge about language to decision making in that real world". However, the scope of applied linguistics is still not clear. He tried to create boarder lines to the areas of concern in applied linguistics as consisting of language and education, language, work and law and language, information and effect. The most important thing is that applied linguistics must be protected from the claim that says that language is everywhere, then applied linguistics is the science of everything.

These are other definitions of applied linguistics :

a) ‘understood as an open field, in which those inhabiting or passing through simply show a common commitment to the potential value of dialogue with people who are different’ (Rampton 1997: 14)

b) Guy Cook defines applied linguistics as ‘the academic discipline concerned with the relation of knowledge about language to decision making in the real world’ (Cook 2003: 20).

c) ‟AL is using what we know about, (a) language, (b) how it is learned, and (c) how it is used in order to achieve some purpose or to solve some problem in the real world”. Schmitt and Celce-Murcia (2002, p.1)

d) the focus of AL is on trying to resolve languagebased problems that people encounter in the real world, whether they be learners, teachers, supervisors, academics, lawyers, service providers… policy developers, dictionary makers, translators, or a whole range of business clients. (Grabe, 2002, p.9)

e) Applied linguistics is any attempt to work with language in a critical and

reflective way, with some ultimate practical goal in mind. This includes

(amongst other things): deliberately trying to learn (or teach) a foreign

language or to develop your ability in your native language; overcoming a

language impairment; translating from one language to another; editing a piece of writing in a linguistically thoughtful way. It also includes doing

any research or developing any ideas or tools which aim to help people

do these sorts of things.

Phil Durrant
Visiting Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Education, Bilkent University

f) ‘Applied linguistics’ (AL) is one of several academic disciplines focusing

on how language is acquired and used in the modern world. It is a

somewhat eclectic field that accommodates diverse theoretical

approaches, and its interdisciplinary scope includes linguistic, psych

ological and educational topics. 

Zoltán Dörnyei
Professor of Psycholinguistics, University of Nottingham

The scope of applied linguistics

During the 1960s and 1970, it was taken for granted that applied linguistics was about language teaching. This was important because there was a need for language teaching especially English after the Second World War. This showed that a number of teachers, trainers and supervisors lacked language knowledge. It is accepted that applied linguistics is trying to solve language problems that people encounter in the real world. Then, the scope of applied linguistics should not be restricted to language teaching only. In fact, the scope should be broadening to cover language acquisition either the mother tongue or a target language, psych/neuro linguistics, sociolinguistics and so on.

Summing up
In my opinion based on my own perspective, applied linguistics is such a media to connect or mediate between linguistics and real life language. Thus, it can be assumed as a connector or mediator between them.

References : www.preservearticles.com/2012051932687/applied-linguistics-history-and-definition.html
Accessing time: Monday, March 25, 2013