The handbook of applied linguistics

Edited by Alan Davies and Catherine Elder
Malden, MA : Blackwell, 2004.

ISBN: 0631228993

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Book description
Applied linguistics is defined as the theorizing investigation of real-world problems in which language has a central role. Those who regard themselves as applied linguists proceed from the problem to the analysis and the explanation (and possibly the proposals for change), in other words from practice to theory. Those who regard themselves primarily as linguists often proceed in the reverse direction, from linguistic theory to the understanding - and amelioration -of language problems. This further implies that in their applied linguistics, applied linguists take account of a wider range of interests and disciplines than do linguists who are primarily concerned with the development and validation of linguistic theories. Both approaches to applied linguistics, that of linguistics-applied (from theory to practice) and that of applied-linguistics (from practice to theory) are considered in this handbook but greater emphasis is placed on the latter.

By careful selection of topic and of author, the attempt is made to offer a coherent account of applied linguistics and in doing so to provide a consideration of applied linguistics as itself an independent and coherent discipline, which like similar vocational activities (general medicine, business studies, applied psychology, law) seeks to marry practical experience and theoretical understanding of language development and language in use.

About the author
Catherine Elder is an Associate Professor in Second and Foreign Language Teaching in the Faculty of Education at Monash University.

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