Linguistics And Applied Linguistics.docx

APPLIED LINGUISTICS IN ORAL COMMUNICATION Linguistics and Applied Linguistics I. Objectives At the end of the session, you should be able to: 1. describe language and enumerate its functions; 2. define linguistics and applied linguistics; 3. explain the relationship between linguistics and applied linguistics; and 4. describe how applied linguistics affects language teaching. II. Content A. What is language?  Language is “a system of communication by speaking, writing, or making signs in a way that can be understood, or any of the different systems of communication used in particular regions.” (Cambridge Dictionary)  Language is “a system of conventional spoken, manual, or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves. (Encyclopedia Britannica)  “A language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group cooperates.” -Bernard Bloch and George L. Trager, American linguists  Language, is species-specific to human beings. (Encyclopedia Britannica) Why do people use language? People use language:  to facilitate communication, in the sense of transmission of information from one person to another;  to establish and maintain relationships; and  to express a national or local identity. B. What is Linguistics?  Linguistics is “the study of the structure and development of language in general or of particular languages.” (Cambridge Dictionary)  Linguistics is the scientific study of language. It involves an analysis of language form, language meaning, and language in context. (Wikipedia)  Linguistics is the study of language—how it is put together and how it functions. (SIL International)  Linguistics is the study of language in all its aspects including its structure, its diversity, how it changes and evolves, how people learn and make use of it to communicate, and how it is implicated in relations of power. (University of Melbourne)

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Linguistics is concerned with the nature of language and communication. It deals both with the study of particular languages, and the search for general properties common to all languages or large groups of languages. (University of Arizona)

Some questions Linguistics tries to answer  What distinguishes human language from other animal communication systems?  What features are common to all human languages?  How are models of linguistic communication (speech, writing, sign language) related to each other?  How is language related to other types of human behavior?  What is language and how is it organized?  How is language analyzed? C. What is Applied Linguistics?  Applied Linguistics is a technology which makes abstract ideas and research findings accessible and relevant to the real world as it mediates between theory and practice. (International Encyclopedia of Linguistics)  Applied Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of linguistics which identifies, investigates and target language-related real-life problems. (Wikipedia)  Applied Linguistics is concerned with the study of language and linguistics in relation to practical problems and the study of second and foreign language learning and teaching. It uses information from other discipline to develop its own theoretical models of language and language use, and then uses this information and theory in practical areas such as syllabus design, language planning, etc. (Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics)  Applied Linguistics is the application of linguistic theories, descriptions, and methods to the solution of language problems which have arisen in a range of human, cultural, and social contexts. -Ronald Carter  Applied Linguistics is concerned with practical issues involving language in the life of the community. The most important of these is the learning of second or foreign languages. (University of Melbourne)  Applied Linguistics is using what we know about language, how it is learned, and how it is used in order to achieve some purpose or solve some problem in the real world. -Norbert Schmitt and Marianne Celce-Murcia If linguistics actualizes language, one can say that Applied Linguistics actualizes more than language; it actualizes “language practices.” What are some defining characteristics of Applied Linguistics?  Applied Linguistics is autonomous, multidisciplinary, and problem solving. It uses and draws on theory from other related fields concerned with language and generates its

own theory in order to find solutions to language related problems and issues in the real world. D. What is the relationship between Linguistics and Applied Linguistics?  Applied Linguistics occupies an intermediary, mediating position between language related disciplines (linguistics, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics) and professional practice. Linguistics, Psycholinguistics, Applied Linguistics Pedagogy → → Sociolinguistics Theoretician Mediator Practitioner 

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Applied Linguistics uses theories/principles from language related disciplines in order to understand language related issues and to solve language related problems. The choice of which disciplines are involved in applied linguistics matters depends on the circumstances. Applied Linguistics conducts research into professional practice and on the basis of the results develops theory.

E. How does Applied Linguistics affect language teaching? Language teachers encounter a lot of problems. These problems are related to:  language learning and teaching  literary  language contact (language and culture)  language policy and planning  language assessment  language use  language and technology  translation and interpretation  language pathology Applied Linguistics tries to address these problems. Sample questions that Applied Linguistics try to address  How can we teach languages better?  How can we diagnose speech pathologies better?  How can we improve the training of translators?  How can we develop valid language examinations?  How can we determine the literacy levels of a population?  What advice can we give the Department of Education on proposals to introduce a new teaching method?

Summary  Language is a human-specific, structured system of arbitrary sounds and symbols used in communication. It is used by a social group to interact and cooperate with each other.  People use language to communicate, to establish relationships, and to express identity.  Linguistics is primarily concerned with language in itself and in finding ways of analyzing language and building theories that describe language.  Applied Linguistics entails using what we know about language, how it is used, and about how it is learned in order to solve problems in the real world.  Linguistics actualizes language while Applied Linguistics actualizes language practices.  Applied Linguistics is in a mediating position between Linguistics and teaching. It uses linguistic theories and linguistics-related research to help solve problems related to language teaching and learning. “Linguistics is not a teaching method, but a growing body of knowledge and theory; and though it may offer helpful answers to some of the problems of language teaching, it surely does not know all the answers.” – William G. Moulton III. References Applied Linguistics to Foreign Language Teaching and Learning. Unit 1: An Introduction to Applied Linguistics http://opencourses.uoa.gr/modules/document/file.php/ENL6/Instructional%20Package/Reader% 20and%20Workbook/PDF/Unit1_workbook.pdf http://opencourses.uoa.gr/modules/document/file.php/ENL5/Instructional%20Package/Presenta tions/PDFs/Unit1_Accessible.pdf Definition of Language https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/language https://www.britannica.com/topic/language Definition of Linguistics https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/linguistics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistics https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/soll/study/applied-linguistics https://www.sil.org/linguistics/what-linguistics https://linguistics.arizona.edu/content/what-linguistics-and-why-study-it-0 Definition of Applied Linguistics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applied_linguistics https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/soll/study/applied-linguistics