Transcript Applied Linguistics

Lecture # 7
Review of Lecture # 6
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Language variation
 language varies in geographical and social
space.
 Causes behind language variation
 Roles of participants, function of speech event,
nature of medium, roles of a person, professions
 Language varieties: Code, register, pidgin, creole,
dialect etc.
Applied Linguistics
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Definition: The use of language –related
research in a wide variety of fields, including
language acquisition, language teaching,
literacy, literary studies, gender studies,
speech therapy, discourse analysis, censorship,
workplace communication, media studies,
translation studies, lexicography, and forensic
linguistics.
Applied Linguistics
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Introduction: Applied Linguistics is the
collective term for the various applications of
linguistic (and phonetic) scholarship to related
practical fields – foreign language, teaching,
lexicography, translation, speech
pathology and therapy, error analysis etc.
Applied Linguistics (Intro..)
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 In the widest sense, Applied Linguistics borders on
other disciplines e.g. sociology, anthropology,
psychology, biology, stylistics etc.
 Speech therapists, literary critics, translators,
communication engineers, language teachers,
syllabus formers, educational planners, text book
writers, dictionary makers have found linguistics
useful for their work
Applied Linguistics (Intro..)
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Applied Linguistics is a consumer, or user, not a
producer of theories.
 An inter-disciplinary area of study
 It uses knowledge of how languages work
within different applied settings.
Applied Linguistics (Intro..)
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It examines the structure of language &
its role in communication.
It explores how children acquire
language.
It studies how second language
learners develop skills.
Applied Linguistics (Intro..)
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The study investigates how the social &
cultural environment interacts with
language.
 It talks about the practical application
of language
Applied Linguistics
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Use in language
 Writing better text books, translating them and
teaching them becomes easy if a person knows a
language and its structure.
 A language learner can learn a language more easily
if he knows the system and sounds than through
haphazard, hit or miss manner
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
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Use in language (contd..)
 A foreign language learner can acquire accurate
pronunciation with the help of phonetics.
 Researchers can conduct research on language if they
are aware of the rules of the language and the
variations in language while moving across
disciplines and geographical regions
Applied Linguistics (contd..)
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Use in Psychology & Neuro-surgery
 Psychologists and neuro-surgeons interested in
brains and principles of learning
 A child’s attempt to learn a language, his ability to
categorize, his loss of control over his linguistic skill
(reading, writing, speaking and listening with
understanding), his conceptual capabilities and
failures – all help the specialists.
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
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Use in communication media
 Engineers who know properties of speech design
better telephones – that operate when you dictate
rather than dial a number
 Dictation typewriter instead of touch-typewriter
 translation work by machines instead of humans
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
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Use in media (contd..)
Better radios and televisions
People associated with media can take help
from speech therapists, if they need
Sound effects on microphones can be
improved- helps sound engineers
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
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Use in law
Voice print unique like thumb- impression
Officers of law can apprehend criminals by
the help of tapes of recorded conversations
Use in Philosophy
Philosophers can take fresh look at
controversies
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
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Use in Philosophy (contd..)
Philosophers, by their acquaintance with
linguists can try to resolve some old
controversies – rationalists’ point of view and
empiricists’ point of view about the nature of
learning
Can also study structure of meaning and
validity of forming linguistic universals
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
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Use in Sociology
Sociologists can look at the interaction of
social groups, role of languages and dialects
in group dynamics, problems created by
bilingualism, polylingualism etc.
Anthropologists can study a community
better
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
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Use in Mathematics
 Mathematicians interested in the formal properties
of natural languages and how meaning is mapped
into sound.
 Such information useful in devising computer
languages
 Teachers of composition can diagnose students’
problems and suggest remedies
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
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study for personal satisfaction
Study of language satisfies intellectual urge
Knowledge of mysteries of language gives us
satisfaction and pleasures
Language can be studied for its own sake just
like literature
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
Conclusion
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 Study of linguistics quenches linguistic thirst
 Gives knowledge of the properties and mysteries
of knowledge
 Illuminates ancient and pre-historic culture
 Helps in improving and reforming spellings,
vocabulary, pronunciation, usage, interpretation.
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
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Conclusion (contd…)
Some day advances in linguistics may
help in creation of some new
international language.
Advances may help in developing new
kinds of talking machines
Applied Linguistics (contd…)
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Conclusion (contd…)
Advances may help in understanding
the language of any other species, if
found on any other planet.
The study is also useful in the
information of scripts and spellings.
Applied Linguistics (contd..)
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The study is also useful in production
of teaching materials, dictionaries,
grammars and text books.
Applied linguistics has extended its
boundaries so much that it has entered
the domains of several fields of
knowledge and provided remedial
measures to remove several problems