What Is Applied Linguistics?

Why I choose Applied Linguistics as my major? Well, It is an interesting story. I have shared it in my previous articles, so if you are interested, you can go for it.

Now let me start my business. The overarching purpose of my sharing today is to contrast the three concepts: Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, and linguistics applied.

When I was young, I thought Applied Linguistics is  linguistics' application, but it turns out that I was wrong. The difference between Theoretical Linguistics and Applied Linguistics lies in their goals. Theoretical Linguistics aims to study the human language, while Applied Linguistics aims to solve language-related problems in real life. In other words, Theoretical Linguistics focuses on language itself, while Applied Linguistics focuses on language in use.

So what about the dissimilarity between Applied Linguistics and linguistics applied? Both of them accord primacy to application of linguistic theories. However, linguistics applied only borrows theories from linguistics, and it aims to perfect these theories through application of them. In contrast with linguistics applied, Applied Linguistics borrows theories not only from linguistics, but also from other disciplines like psychology and sociology, and it aims at solve real-life language problems, rather than better the theories.

I hope I have made myself understood.

It would be perfect for me to just stop here, but I have to write at least 300 words in order to claim the authorship of this article. Sometimes you do have to do things you don't want to so as to get what you want. I have just thought of one way to solve this problem. Maybe I can just copy and paste the same content next time. Forgive me for these nonsensical talking. Thank you.

Anyway, have a good sleep.