应用语言学第一二章

Chapter 1

1.What Is Applied Linguistics?

1).What is applied linguistics? Why is there no consensus on its definition and scope?

①Applied linguistics aimed to solve problems in various fields by applying the knowledge of linguistics.②As applied linguistics is a comparatively new discipline, there is as yet no consensus of opinions as to what its definition is and how wide its scope should be.

2.What is the role of applied linguistics? Why does it play that role?

① The role of applied linguistics

Linguistics, etc. ←→ Applied Linguistics ←→

Language Teaching, etc.

Figure---The role of applied linguistics as a mediator.

②Applied linguistics thus not only provides principles and basic methodology for language teachers, etc., based on the theories and insights of linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, etc.; it also provides feedback to linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, etc., by summing up the experience from the practical areas such as language teaching.

3.What is the nature of applied linguistics? What is the difference between applied linguistics and other applied sciences?

Answer: the nature of applied linguistics

(1) It is an independent discipline in its own right, because

* it has its own object of study;

* it has its own scientific system of theories and methodology; and

* it has its own researchers.

(2) It is an interdisciplinary science, because it draws upon theories not from a single science,

but from several. Besides, its application is also interdisciplinary in the broad sense.

(3) It is an applied science. Its goal is to solve problem, i. e. application, unlike pure science.

But we should not understand application in a narrow sense. Applied linguistics is also concerned with implications of the theoretical fields such as linguistics, sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics.

(4) It is an empirical science. Like natural sciences, it uses experiments as its basic way of research, emphasizing objectivity, systematicness, explicitness and economy.

The goal of applied linguistics is to solve problem, i.e., application. But we should not understand application in the literal sense. Applied linguistics is also concerned with implications of the theoretical fields such as linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics.

4.What is the relationship between applied linguistics and language learning and teaching? Answer: Good language teaching practice is based on good theoretical understanding, and a good language teaching theory will strive to provide a conceptual framework devised for identifying all factors relevant in the teaching of language and relationship between them and for giving effective direction to the practice of language teaching, supported by the necessary research and inquiry.

5.Why is it necessary for the language teacher to learn applied linguistics?

Answer: Applied linguistics aims to provide language teachers with good language teaching