Introduction to Applied Linguistics

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Introduction to Applied Linguistics Definitions: Applied linguistics is not easy to define because people would think of many things when it comes to applied linguistics. In fact, those who practice applied linguistics do not agree upon a certain definition. Therefore, there is a gap that needs to be filled in terms of defining applied linguistics. The definition problem is due to the lack of agreement on what is that to be applied?" A mediation between theory and practice "as Kaplan and Widdowson, " a synthesis from a variety of disciplines including linguistics" as Hudson said, "presupposition of linguistics because a person cannot apply what he does not know" as Corder implied. In addition, an extreme area of applied linguistics that is called critical applied linguistics highlights the following concerns and issues like identity, ethics, disparity, desire and the reproduction of otherness that have not been up to now considered to be connected to applied linguistics. What have been mentioned is an attempt to use applied linguistics concerns and activities to explain and analyze what applied linguistics methods and purposes are. This is called the ostensive definition approach. These ostensive views have a problem because they really do not help in creating syllabuses in applied linguistics and they do not help in determining what things that are needed to be included in the profession. Those who argue for a dictionary definition believed that applied linguistics has a core do not accept ostensive definitions. For example, Widdowson claims that applied linguistics has got a core and he rejects the claim that says that applied linguistics is a mixture of many disciplines. Widdowson and Cook believed that "the task of applied linguistics is to mediate between linguistics and language use". Another definition of applied linguistics by Guy Cook is "the academic
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