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Some polemical issues in Applied Linguistics

Alguns temas polêmicos na disciplina de linguística aplicada

Abstracts

In this paper, I look at three polemical issues in Applied Linguistics. I argue, first of all, that the desire for a stable definition of applied linguistics has by no means prevented research in the discipline. Secondly, I contend that the notion or "tradition" of "linguistics applied" (corpus linguistics or lexicography) is broader and more serious than "applicationism" (the use of linguistic formalisms, artificial practices, and terminology) in teaching material that are problematic and motivated by commercial interests. Thirdly, I argue that Educational Linguistics and Applied Linguistics have overlapping research objectives. In the course of the paper, I present some reservations about Educational Linguistics.

Applied Linguistics; Linguistics Applied; Educational Linguistics; theory and practice


Neste trabalho, examino três temas polêmicos na disciplina de Linguística Aplicada. Argumento, em primeiro lugar, que o desejo de uma definição estável de Linguística Aplicada, de nenhuma forma, tem impedido a pesquisa no âmbito da disciplina. Em segundo lugar, argumento que a "Linguistics Applied" (a linguística do corpus ou a lexicologia) são muito mais abrangentes e sérias do que as práticas "aplicacionistas" (o uso de formalismo, artificialismos e nomenclatura em material didático) que são problemáticos e motivados por interesses comerciais. Em terceiro lugar, argumento que a Linguística Educacional e a Linguística Aplicada têm objetivos de pesquisa que se sobrepõem. No decorrer do trabalho, apresento algumas reservas minhas sobre a Linguística Educacional.

Linguistica Aplicada; aplicação da linguística; Linguística Educacional; teoria e prática


ARTIGOS

Some polemical issues in Applied Linguistics

Alguns temas polêmicos na disciplina de Linguística Aplicada

John Robert Schmitz

Unicamp, E-mail: john.schmitz@uol.com.br

ABSTRACT

In this paper, I look at three polemical issues in Applied Linguistics. I argue, first of all, that the desire for a stable definition of applied linguistics has by no means prevented research in the discipline. Secondly, I contend that the notion or "tradition" of "linguistics applied" (corpus linguistics or lexicography) is broader and more serious than "applicationism" (the use of linguistic formalisms, artificial practices, and terminology) in teaching material that are problematic and motivated by commercial interests. Thirdly, I argue that Educational Linguistics and Applied Linguistics have overlapping research objectives. In the course of the paper, I present some reservations about Educational Linguistics.

Keywords: Applied Linguistics, Linguistics Applied, Educational Linguistics, theory and practice.

RESUMO

Neste trabalho, examino três temas polêmicos na disciplina de Linguística Aplicada. Argumento, em primeiro lugar, que o desejo de uma definição estável de Linguística Aplicada, de nenhuma forma, tem impedido a pesquisa no âmbito da disciplina. Em segundo lugar, argumento que a "Linguistics Applied" (a linguística do corpus ou a lexicologia) são muito mais abrangentes e sérias do que as práticas "aplicacionistas" (o uso de formalismo, artificialismos e nomenclatura em material didático) que são problemáticos e motivados por interesses comerciais. Em terceiro lugar, argumento que a Linguística Educacional e a Linguística Aplicada têm objetivos de pesquisa que se sobrepõem. No decorrer do trabalho, apresento algumas reservas minhas sobre a Linguística Educacional.

Palavras-chave: Linguistica Aplicada, aplicação da linguística, Linguística Educacional, teoria e prática.

Texto completo do artigo disponível apenas em PDF.

Article full text available only in PDF format.

Recebido em 22/06/09.

Aprovado em 02/10/09.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    14 Mar 2013
  • Date of issue
    2010

History

  • Received
    22 June 2009
  • Accepted
    02 Oct 2009
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