Applied linguistics is the scientific study of language and its practical applications. It is an interdisciplinary field that combines insights and methods from linguistics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and education, among other disciplines, to understand how language is used in real-world contexts and how it can be improved or enhanced in various settings.
The history of applied linguistics can be traced back to the early 20th century, when linguists began to apply their knowledge of language to practical problems. For example, Edward Sapir, a linguist and anthropologist, worked with Native American communities in the United States to document their languages and cultures. In the 1930s, Leonard Bloomfield, a structural linguist, developed a method for teaching languages based on the analysis of their underlying grammatical structures.
During World War II, the military's need for language training led to the development of the audio-lingual method, which emphasized the importance of repetitive drills and reinforcement in language learning. In the 1950s, Noam Chomsky's theory of generative grammar revolutionized the field of linguistics and had a significant impact on applied linguistics. Chomsky's work led to the development of the natural approach to language teaching, which emphasizes the importance of providing a rich language input to learners in order to facilitate language acquisition.
In the 1960s and 1970s, applied linguistics became more interdisciplinary, with linguists collaborating with educators, psychologists, and sociologists to study language learning and use in a variety of contexts. In the 1980s and 1990s, the field of applied linguistics was further influenced by the emergence of new technologies and the increasing globalization of communication. Today, applied linguistics continues to evolve and addresses a wide range of issues related to language, including second language acquisition, language teaching and learning, language assessment, language policy and planning, language disorders and therapy, and the relationship between language and society.
