APPLIED LINGUISTIC

            After reading the Handbook of Applied Linguistics (Alan Davies and Catherine Elder) we understand that in generally, language science is divided in two kinds: 1) linguistics, 2) applied linguistics. The firs kind of language science is Linguistics. Linguistics is the scientific study of language and the main purpose of linguistics is understanding the nature of language in general. There are three aspects in linguistics: language form, language meaning, and language in communicative contex. The most common interdisciplinary branches of Linguistics are: Historical Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics, Ethnolinguistics or Anthropological Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, Neurolinguistics.

            The second kind of language sciense is applied linguistic. Brumfit said that the definition of Applied Linguistics is “the theoretical and empirical investigation of real world problems in which language is a central issue” (1997:93). Applied Linguistics uses language-related research in a wide variety of fields for example language acquisition, language teaching, literacy, gender studies, language policy, speech therapy, discourse analysis, censorship, workplace communication, media studies, translation, lexicography, forensic linguistics. Schmitt and Celce-Murcia said that Applied Linguistics’ 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 solve some problem in the real world (2002:1). They show that the main concern of applied linguistic is second language acquisition theory, second language pedagogy and the interface between the two. And the focus of applied linguistics according to Grabe is trying to resolve language-based problems that people encounter in the real world, whether they be learners, teachers, supervisors, academics, lawyers, service providers, those who need social services, test takers, policy developers, dictionary makers, translators, or a whole range of business. Applied linguistics is concerned with the role of language in peoples’ lives and problems associated with language use in peoples’ lives.

            In 1948, there was a journal, which was founded in Michigan University and called Language Learning. This  journal was the first journal that carried the term-applied linguistics. It was mentioned in an article, which was called Language learning in 1967. However, the term-applied linguistics meant the application of linguistics. One of the editors has emphasized the wide range of theories and research methods that are used to investigate language studies in 1993. The term of “Applied Linguistics”  is developed in America. It was founded at the University of Edinburgh School of Applied Linguistics in 1956. And than, in 1957 it has developed at the Center of Applied Linguistics in Washington D.C.