A Linguistic Explanation for the Foundations of Applied Linguistics

Abstract

Is applied linguistics merely an extension of linguistics, as its name implies? To answer that question, we need philosophical delimitation criteria. We might avoid much contestation and contradiction if we defined the fields of linguistics and applied linguistics with reference not to concrete entities, but to the two modalities, the lingual and the technical, that respectively delimit their scope. A linguistic explanation for applied linguistic design decisions remains highly problematic, but even among those who hold that position we find hints of alternative perspectives.